Highway Interchange Petlovo Brdo

Complaint

On 21 March 2013 the Citizens Association "Green Settlement – Rooster's Hill"  lodged a complaint with the EIB Complaints Mechanism (EIB-CM). The complaint concerns the allegedly negative impact of the construction of the Petlovo Brdo interchange on the Park Borici forest as well as on the lives and well-being of the residents. The complainant further alleged that Public Enterprise Roads of Serbia (the promoter) had not produced an environmental impact assessment for the specific component of the project.

EIB-CM Action

The EIB-CM carried out an initial assessment of the allegations made by the complainant and, following a fact-finding mission to Belgrade in October 2013, issued its Initial Assessment Report (IAR) on 23 December 2013. The IAR concluded that further enquiries were required, as the case raised concerns, notably regarding (i) the establishment of an EIA, (ii) the environmental impacts of the future construction, (iii) the social impacts of the construction on the dwellers of the settlement, (iv) the conduct of a public consultation and (v) the implementation of specific mitigation measures. Taking into account all the involved parties' concerns as well as the need to find solutions acceptable to them and the need to facilitate the dialogue between the parties, the EIB-CM proposed to engage in a mediation process with a view to achieving a solution that would ensure the continuation of the project, the protection of the environment and the well-being of the community.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Following the positive outcome of the mediation initiative, the case was closed by the EIB-CM. The EIB-CM, in collaboration with the relevant EIB services, will keep following up the satisfactory implementations of the options agreed by the mediation parties, until full implementation of the Settlement Agreement.

Status

The Settlement Agreement is being implemented.