Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
The European Union supports the Western Balkan countries in building a modern, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy. For the corresponding reforms, the expertise of the Umweltbundesamt, the Environment Agency Austria, is in demand.
In the project "EU4 Green Recovery: Support the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans", the expert institution strengthens national authorities to reduce pollutants in the environment, preserve biodiversity, promote the circular economy and make agriculture more sustainable.
What the Green Deal is for the EU, the Green Agenda is for the countries of the Western Balkans – a comprehensive strategic roadmap against the climate crisis. It points the way to new energy and mobility solutions, sustainable economies, environmentally friendly agriculture and the preservation of biodiversity. The implementation of the Green Agenda in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Kosovo* and Serbia is the aim of the project "EU4 Green Recovery: Support the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans". The Environment Agency Austria is implementing the project since January 2022 on behalf of the European Commission.
"The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is the catalyst for achieving climate goals, economic recovery in the region and convergence with the European Union," explains Environment Agency Austria's Managing Director Monika Mörth. "With the new project and the know-how of our experts, we are starting to implement the necessary reforms for this structural change."
The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is the catalyst for achieving climate goals, economic recovery in the region and convergence with the European Union.
6 countries, 1 goal: climate neutrality by 2050
By 2026, experts from the Environment Agency Austria and the authorities in the partner countries will develop concrete plans to reduce environmentally harmful emissions, switch to renewable energies, promote sustainable production and consumption and protect nature. The plans are developed together with national representatives from politics and industry, while monitoring and reporting are expanded. In addition, the project partners are taking measures to raise citizens' awareness of the EU's contribution to the improvement of living conditions and the ecological turnaround in the Western Balkans. The financial resources for the new project come from the European Commission. On the national level, it is co-financed by ADA (Austrian Development Agency).
Perspectives for people and environment
The basis for the Environment Agency Austria's cooperation with the Western Balkan countries is the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. With this Green Agenda, the EU supports the Western Balkan countries in setting the necessary course for climate neutrality by 2050 and in advancing the EU accession process. Their commitment to aligning with European climate targets for accession was reaffirmed by the leaders of the Western Balkans in the Sofia Declaration in November 2020.
Environment Agency Austria: Proven partner in more than 60 countries
The Environment Agency Austria advises institutions of the European Union, new and future EU Member States and countries of the EU Neighborhood Policy in the East and Mediterranean region on the development of administration and national legislation in the environmental field. In addition, the expert organization is a partner in more than 200 national, European and international networks, bodies and working groups and cooperates with international institutions such as UNEP and OECD.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and it is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
