From 18th to 22nd of May a delegation of the Republic of Macedonia, lead by the Director of the State Environmental Inspectorate, Mr. Firus Memed, implemented a study visit in the region of Galicia (Spain) and visited several companies of different sectors as examples of good practice in the field of environmental inspection and enforcement of environmental regulations by the companies.
The group was composed of 11 representatives of the State Environmental Inspectorate, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and several municipalities from the Republic of Macedonia that were welcomed by the Spanish Project Leader of this Twinning, Mr. José Francisco Alonso Picón, and his team of environmental inspectors of the Galician Regional Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructures (CMATI) with the purpose of exchanging good practices and experience in environmental enforcement, with a focus in areas of Air Quality, IPPC/IED and Water management sector between Spanish and Macedonian partners.
Institutional visits included the General Secretariat of Quality and Environmental Evaluation, the Environmental Laboratory of Galicia and the Directorate General of Nature Conservation, among others, with presentations being delivered on the organisation of environmental enforcement authorities in Galicia, implementation of inspections, software tools supporting inspectors, colaboration among different stakeholders and performance of monitoring and sampling.
As for industries, the representatives of Macedonia visited some leading companies as a wood panel production installation (FINSA), Waste Water Treatment Plant of the city of La Coruña, a large brewery installation (La Estrella de Galicia), the regional waste management complex of SOGAMA, and a milk production installation (Feiraco). They visited additionally a soil restoration facility (TEN (Tratamientos Ecológicos del Noroeste)), a restored iron pyrite mine (Mina de Touro), and an end-of-life vehicles processing plant (TRAMEVE). Finally, they also payed a visit to the National Park “Islas Atlánticas” with local inspectors.
During the study visit the Macedonian delegation was received in an official Reception by the Regional Minister of Environment of Galicia, Ms. Ethel María Vazquéz Mourelle.
Related documents:
- Press releases related to the study visit you can find here
- Documents delivered to the participants (164 MB zip file) (presentations, templates, permits...) in relation to the institutions and industrial installations visited (waste management, brewery, wood panel, landfill, restored minе, environmental laboratory, end-of-life vehicles, milk production).