The Gap Analysis of the Public Prosecution Service in Serbia provides a comprehensive assessment of the systemic shortcomings that hinder the effective investigation and prosecution of environmental crime. It identifies critical gaps in the institutional framework, legal definitions, human resources, financial capacity, and inter-agency cooperation. Despite an existing legal basis aligned with international standards like the new EU Directive 2024/1203, the practical implementation remains weak due to unclear legal terms, insufficient specialization within prosecutor’s offices, and inadequate use of investigative techniques tailored for complex environmental offenses. Furthermore, limited technical equipment, lack of specialized staff and expert support, as well as insufficient training on sector-specific regulations, significantly reduce the efficiency of prosecutors when handling environmental cases.
To address these issues, the analysis offers detailed recommendations aimed at strengthening Serbia’s capacity to tackle environmental crime through criminal law. These include harmonizing national legislation with EU standards, establishing specialized units for environmental crime within prosecution offices, improving evidence-gathering and preservation procedures, and enhancing cooperation with police, inspectors, non-governmental organizations, and the media. Increasing financial resources, developing clear inter-agency protocols, expanding international cooperation, and informing the public about prosecutorial activities are also emphasized as crucial steps. Together, these measures are designed to build a more responsive and robust system that can more effectively deter environmental harm and ensure accountability for offenders.