Law No. 73 “On Environmental Fund”.

This Law establishes a specialized, extra-budgetary financial instrument designed to support the objectives of the National Environment Action Plan. Its primary focus is to facilitate environmental protection efforts in accordance with national and international standards, emphasizing the importance of legal and financial mechanisms to achieve public interest goals related to environmental conservation. The Law delineates the fund's purpose, management structure, and sources of funding, positioning it within a broader legal and policy framework aimed at environmental sustainability. Key measures include the creation of a dedicated fund managed by the Environment Fund administration, which operates under the authority of the central environmental protection body. The administration is structured with a Board of Directors and an Executive Secretariat, responsible for project evaluation, eligibility criteria, and project management. The Law specifies the composition and responsibilities of the opinion committee, which approves priority projects, and details the procedures for project evaluation, funding, and support mechanisms such as interest subsidies and loan guarantees. Funding sources are explicitly enumerated, including environmental fees, taxes on pollution and resource exploitation, government allocations, donations, and international aid, with the government empowered to determine specific collection and charging arrangements. Implementation is governed by organizational rules approved by the government, with responsibilities assigned to various ministries and agencies. The Law sets timelines for establishing the fund's operational framework and stipulates penalties for non-compliance, including civil and criminal liabilities, as well as the suspension of support for non-paying entities. It emphasizes procedural clarity, stakeholder involvement through representatives and NGOs, and institutional accountability, ensuring that the fund's activities align with legal standards and policy objectives for environmental protection.