The National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, hereinafter referred to individually as the “Participant” and collectively as the “Participants”,

Bearing in mind the friendly relationship between the two countries,

Expressing a desire to initiate continuous bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development,

Confident that such cooperation between the Participants is of mutual benefit and will further promote the friendly relations between the two countries,

Acting in accordance with the national legislation of both countries and the principles of international environmental law,

Recognizing the importance of sustainable development for the protection and enhancement of the environment, as well as for the health and well-being of present and future generations,

Have reached the following understanding:

With the aim of reducing environmental pollution and securing nature protection, based on the principles of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit, the Participants will develop and promote co-operation in the field of environmental protection, including the exchange of experiences, information, expertise and technology.

The Participants intend to cooperate in the following priority fields:

a) Nature protection and protected areas management,

b) Environmental control and monitoring,

c) Environmental assessment,

d) Water and land resources management,

e) Waste management,

f) Air and ozone layer protection,

g) Climate change,

h) Other areas of cooperation jointly agreed upon by the Participants.

Cooperation between the Participants under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be carried out by implementing the following activities:

a) Joint seminars, workshops and meetings between experts and decision makers, and other relevant stakeholders of both Participants, conducted both in-person and online,

b) Experts exchange visits, including civil servants and delegations,

c) Other mutually agreed forms of cooperation.

Each Participant will appoint a coordinator for the implementation of this MoU, with the purpose of reviewing and facilitating future cooperation under this MoU, as well as establishing work plans for its implementation.

The competent authorities responsible for environmental protection of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Uzbekistan will be in charge of the overall coordination of the implementation of the provisions of this MoU.

The cooperation under this MoU will be implemented within the respective available resources of the Participants. This MoU will not create any financial obligations for either Participant.

This MoU is not international agreement and will not create rights and obligations upon the Participants.

This MoU will not affect the rights and obligations of the Participants arising from other bilateral and multilateral agreements to which each country is a party.

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the interpretation and application of this MoU will be settled amicably between the Participants through diplomatic channels.

This MoU may be amended at any time by mutual consent of the Participants. All adopted amendments will become an integral part of this MoU.

Any non-public information exchanged between the Participants in connection with the implementation of this MoU will be treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of the Participant that provided the information, except where such disclosure is required by national legislation or where the information is already publicly available.

This MoU will come into effect on the date of signature.

This MoU will be concluded for a period of five (5) years and will be automatically renewed for another period of five (5) years, unless one of the Participants notifies the other Participant in writing of its intention to discontinue its participation in this MoU, no later than three (3) months before the expiration of the original period of five (5) years.

The discontinuation of this MoU will not affect the validity and duration of the projects and activities agreed upon pursuant to this MoU and initiated prior to such discontinuation, unless otherwise agreed by the Participants.

Signed in Belgrade, on 8 September 2026, in two (2) original copies, in the Uzbek, Serbian and English languages, each copy being equally authentic. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the English text will be used.