Terms agreed for new wastewater plant in Serbia

A new wastewater treatment plant will be constructed in Serbia, after the EU made significant funding available.

The project will see a central facility built to serve the Grand Backa canal in Vrbas and Kula, Balkans.com reports.

It will cost a total of €23.6 million (£21.1 million) - of which the EU has stumped up 60 per cent - and Serbian deputy prime minister Verica Kalanovic believes the work will improve the quality of life of 150,000 locals.

The site is expected to be operational within the next year and a half.

Ms Kalanovic also noted that the inefficient treatment of wastewater in the region has been a problem for decades, but a lack of funds and awareness has led to the situation being largely ignored up until now.

Other parts of Eastern Europe appear to be struggling to adapt to EU-standards with their wastewater provisions.

Russian newspaper the Day recently reported that an outbreak of cholera in Ukraine led Green Party leader Oleksandr Prohnymak to warn that a similar spread of disease could happen at any time and anywhere in the country.

Posted by Lauren Steadman