WE REQUEST A DELAY UNTIL
TERMINATION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

In a situation of worsening epidemiological situation, when the number of confirmed cases of infection with the disease COVID-19 is almost 8000 in the last 24 hours, and when more than 7000 people have been hospitalized, it is not possible to conduct public consultations and enable public participation in the decision-making process.

We demand from the Government of the Republic of Serbia, competent ministries, the city of Belgrade and other local self-government units to, without delay, suspend all procedures for public inspection of planning acts and all procedures for assessing the impact on the environment, until the state of emergency is lifted.

In emergency situations, when there is a justified risk of infection of participants in public consultations, it is necessary to ensure consistent compliance with the principle of public participation promoted by the Law on Planning and Construction and the Law on Environmental Protection. Procedures that are carried out without public participation are illegal procedures and are examples of direct violation of the guaranteed rights of the public to participate in the decision-making process.

After the epidemiological situation calms down and the state of emergency is lifted, it is necessary to enable the implementation of public consultations and public debates in compliance with all epidemiological measures, that is, in premises where it is possible to maintain a safe distance and apply all measures to prevent the spread of infection.

In particular, we request the city of Belgrade to, without delay, suspend the procedures for public inspection of the draft detailed regulation plans for part of Makiški polje and the spatial unit Kosančićev venac, because there are no conditions for public inspection to be carried out in accordance with the law.

Ignoring these demands would represent a gross violation of democratic principles and direct exposure of citizens to the risks of infection with the corona virus.

Associations and experts, signatories of this appeal, support similar initiatives of other associations, movements and individuals, considering them fully justified.

In Belgrade on December 3, 2020

Belgrade Open School, Center for Cultural Decontamination, Right to Water Initiative, Ministry of Space, Don't Drown Belgrade, Organization for Political Ecology Polekol, Regulatory Institute for Renewable Energy - RERI, WWF Adria