MATCHING GRANTS Program

ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE

ESQ
Version 12.0
December 12, 2023

Please see the Applicant Guidelines to Filling the ESQ for instructions and clarifications on completing this
document. ESQ screenings are in detail described in the Environment and Social Management Framework
(ESMF). Environmental and Social Management Framework specifies environmental and social procedures for
implemented projects to adhere to, which are consistent with Serbian national legislation and safeguard
policies.

Project IF ID: 53274

Name of Project:
Athena XAI
City/Municipality: Beograd - Novi Beograd (registered seat of the company)
Niš - Crveni Krst (registered branch office)
Name of Applicant:
Syncit Group d.o.o.
Contact email address:
srdjan@syncitgroup.com

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CHECKLIST QUESTIONNAIRE

(must be filled out and filed for every application)

ANSWER YES or NO
CRITERIA
(unless otherwise stated)

Does the proposed activity require a FULL Environmental Impact

Assessment as per the Serbian Law on Environmental Impact
No
Assessment (list of projects for which full EIA is mandatory/decided)?
If yes, this activity cannot be financed.
Does the existing enterprise have valid operating permit, licenses,
approvals etc.? If not, please explain. Permits to screen for include:
construction permit, operational/use permit, urban permit, water
management permit… No, no permit, licenses nor
approval required.

If not, will the grant financing be used to correct this condition? N/A

Does the existing enterprise have integrated permits for facilities and
activities that may have negative impacts on human health, the
No, no environmental permit
environment or material assets (or is in the procedure of obtaining
required.
permits as per the Serbian laws) and does the proposed activity fall
under those for which this permit was issued??
Does the existing enterprise have a valid water management permit
that calls for special investments or measures for the enterprise’s No, no water management
wastewater releases (or is in the procedure of obtaining this permit as permit required.
per the Serbian laws)?

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Does the existing enterprise need to follow specific Serbian
environmental regulations regarding air emissions, water use or No
wastewater discharge and solid waste management?
Are there any significant outstanding environmental fees, fines or
penalties or any other environmental liabilities (e.g. pending legal
proceedings involving environmental issues etc.)
No

If so, will the grant financing be used to correct this condition and
please explain? N/A

Have there been any complaints raised by local affected people or

No
groups or NGOs regarding conditions at the facility?
If so, will the grant financing be used to remedy these complaints?
N/A
Does the existing enterprise take care about primary suppliers’
environmental and social performance or practice Socially Responsible No, our primary suppliers and
Public Procurement? the services supplied are not of
If possible, explain the answer such nature.

Does the existing enterprise take care about associated facilities (if
applicable) relevant environmental and social performance?
Not applicable.
If possible, explain the answer

Proposed Activity

CRITERIA ANSWER YES or NO

(unless otherwise stated)
Will the activity generate water effluents (wastewater) that may require No, no water effluents
special treatment, control or the water management permit? (wastewater) whatsoever would
be generated.
Will the activity air emissions which would require special controls in No, no air emissions whatsoever
order to ensure compliance with the Serbian standards? would be generated.
Will the activity generate noise levels that would require control
measures to ensure compliance with the Serbian standards? No, no noise levels would be
Will the noise levels impact particularly sensitive receptors (natural generated.
habitats, hospitals, schools, local population centers)?

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Will the activity consume, use or store, produce hazardous materials
that:

● require special permits or licenses

● require licensed or trained personnel No, no hazardous materials
● are outlawed or banned in EU or Western countries whatsoever would be consumed,
● are difficult, expensive, or hard to manage used nor stored.
● are inconsistent with environmental and health measures
● may cause soil and water pollution or health hazards if adequate
control measures are not in place
Will the activity generate solid waste that may be considered
hazardous, difficult to manage, or may be beyond the scope of regular
household waste? No, no solid waste whatsoever
(This may include, but not be limited too, animal carcasses, toxic would be generated.
materials, pesticides, medical waste, cleaning materials, flammables
etc.)
Will the activity be located within or close to officially protected areas No, the activity would not be
or areas under consideration by the Government for official protection located within nor close to
status? And will the activity potentially impact areas of known officially protected areas or areas
significance to local, regional or national cultural heritage? under consideration by the
Government for official
protection status, and it would
not potentially impact areas of
known significance to local,
regional or national cultural
heritage.
Will the activity involve import of living organisms, e.g. saplings,
No, no import of living organisms
insects, animals, etc. or works that can impact sensitive environmental
whatsoever would be involved.
receptors?
Has the local population or any NGOs expressed concern about the
No, none whatsoever.
proposed activity’s environmental aspects or expressed opposition?
Is there any other aspect of the activity that would – through normal No, there are no aspects of the
operations or under special conditions – cause a risk or have an impact activity that would cause a risk
on the environment, the population or could be considered as a or have an impact on the
nuisance? environment, the population or
could be considered as a
nuisance.

The Applicant, in signing this form proves that the grant activity will not involve land acquisition, any
form of construction, or will promote any activities on the exclusion list. In addition, the applicant is
aware of the EIA requirements as per the Serbian Law and certifies that there are no Full
Environmental Impact Assessment reports required.

Form filled out by the Applicant:

Date March 27th, 2024
Name Ivan Stanković
Title Director

Signature

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INTERNAL Innovation Fund USE

Form checked and reviewed by the Innovation Fund:
External environmental and social management
provider (ESMP)

Project category is: A_____, B_____, C_____

Date
Name
Title

Signature