site.btaAir Pollution Control Measures Across the Balkans: Green Ticket and More

Sofia

At the beginning of 2025, Sofia Municipality introduced the Green Ticket for public transport in Sofia four times as a preventive measure against air pollution caused by fine particulate matter. On days with potential air pollution, the municipality encourages drivers to leave their cars in free buffer parking areas and use the eco-ticket costing just BGN 1. The ticket is valid for the entire public transport network for the whole day.

In December, Sofia also implemented a low-emission zone for vehicles, effectively banning cars classified under first and second eco-group [this is a group assigned to a vehicle during its annual technical inspection] from entering the city centre. This restriction aims to improve air quality and is in effect during the winter months—between December 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025, according to Sofia Municipality.

Additionally, electric vehicles in Sofia benefit from free parking, with this right verified through an officially issued sticker.

Similar measures aimed at reducing air pollution are being adopted by other Balkan capitals as well.

Belgrade

Since the beginning of 2025, the residents of Belgrade have been using free public transport. Thus, the Serbian capital became the largest city in Europe to provide such public service free of charge.
According to Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić, the number of cars in the city, where approximately 1.7 million people live, has increased by some 250,000 over the past decade. The Serbian capital is one of the few European capitals without a metro system. It is planned for Belgrade’s underground railway to be operational by 2030.

In December 2024, Šapić announced plans to renew the entire fleet of public transport by 2027. The Mayor of Belgrade promised that by end-2025, there would be no buses older than two years, except for those purchased in 2022. He also stated that by end-2025, all public transport vehicles would be either gas-powered or electric. Private transport operators in Belgrade are also required to purchase new vehicles, according to Serbian media.

As part of the measures to improve air quality, the Serbian government offers subsidies between EUR 250 and 5,000 for the purchase of electric vehicles, depending on their type.

Athens

One of the main measures implemented by Greece to limit pollution from motor vehicles is the introduction of the so-called Ring in its capital, Athens. On weekdays, only vehicles with even numbers on their registration plates are allowed to enter the Ring on even dates, while only vehicles with odd numbers on their registration plates can enter on odd dates. Within the Ring, regardless of registration plates, access is permitted for electric and hybrid vehicles, government service vehicles, vehicles belonging to medics, persons with disabilities, as well as vehicles with foreign plates or rented by foreign citizens for up to 40 days after their arrival. The Ring is typically in effect from autumn until July of the following year.

In very rare cases of extreme air pollution, the so-called Large Ring is activated, encompassing a major part of the city. In such cases, the restrictions of the Small Ring apply to the broader area, while personal vehicles are entirely banned from entering the city centre.

Another measure Greece employs to limit air pollution is promoting the purchase of electric vehicles. This is facilitated through the I Move Electrically programme. As of January 2025, the programme's budget was increased by one-third, reaching EUR 44 million, according to the portal gocar.gr. Under this programme, individuals receive a subsidy covering 30% of the car's price before VAT, up to a maximum of EUR 9,000. Companies can also participate in the programme, with subsidies limited to EUR 6,000 per car for up to 20 vehicles and EUR 4,000 for additional purchases beyond that limit.

Skopje

The issue of air pollution is well-known in the capital of North Macedonia, Skopje, which regularly ranks among the top ten cities in the world with the most polluted air and occasionally even takes the first spot. The challenges include aging vehicles and insufficient number of buses for public transport, which is the only form of mass transport in Skopje, as the city lacks trams, trolleybuses, or a metro system.

Under an action plan and regulation adopted in November 2024, measures are set to be triggered in cities meeting specific criteria for air pollutant concentrations over two consecutive days, as determined by North Macedonia's Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. These measures include free public transport, recommendations for employers to exempt pregnant women, individuals over 60 years old, and people with certain health conditions from work obligations. Employers are also advised to reorganize work schedules for outdoor workers, suspend outdoor sporting events and cultural activities, and encourage government employees to refrain from commuting by car. Since the adoption of the action plan and regulation, only the city of Strumica has enforced these measures.

Recently, Skopje received six eco-friendly buses from the EU delegation in North Macedonia as part of an EU-funded programme. Additionally, the government announced plans to launch a public procurement process for more environmentally friendly buses. These initiatives, along with the construction of a gas-fired power plant for central heating, are among the measures the current administration aims to implement.

Zagreb

The Zagreb City Council is currently discussing a programme for reducing the impact of climate change, adapting to climate change, and protecting the city's ozone layer for the period 2025–2028. This programme outlines new measures to promote bicycle use by expanding the existing network of bike paths. Plans include creating special routes to connect the city centre with outlying neighbourhoods by bicycle.

In addition to the existing practice of offering an affordable one-day ticket valid for unlimited tram and bus rides throughout the day, the program envisions the development of an integrated passenger transport system. This system will combine rail transport, trams, buses, and public bicycle-sharing services across not only the City of Zagreb but also the Zagreb County and the Krapina-Zagorje County.

In the coming years, plans also include the purchase of new trams and electric buses, along with the installation of the necessary charging infrastructure.

Bucharest

Bucharest is among the most polluted European capitals. The Romanian capital is currently facing two infringement procedures initiated by the European Commission—one for exceeding the maximum allowable level of nitrogen dioxide and another for surpassing the permitted levels of PM10 particles, for which the city has already been convicted by the European Court of Justice.

Local media recall that in 2020, measures to reduce pollution were supposed to come into effect in Bucharest, including the so-called Oxygen electronic vignette, which featured various tariffs based on the pollution norms of vehicles. In March 2020, when penalties for drivers failing to comply with the new regulation were set to be enforced, then mayor Gabriela Firea proposed to the Municipal Council to cancel the decision to implement these measures, and her proposal was approved.

In the summer of 2024, Romania’s Ministry for Development, Public Works, and Administration introduced for public debate a draft law requiring local authorities in major cities to either ban polluting vehicles from certain zones or impose charges to reduce air pollution. However, Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan stated that he did not agree with "a central authority telling a local authority what to do," and the draft was later withdrawn.