The Institute for Good Governance and Policies in Environment and Climate Change – Skopje (IPECC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MoEPP), hosted the international public event “Climate and Green Agenda” to accelerate the greening of economies and enhance the EU integration process of the Western Balkans. This event, a crucial part of the Civil Society Forum (CSF) recommendation preparation for the 2023 Berlin Process Summit, was a dynamic platform for dialogue among government representatives, the private sector, the EU, international organizations, and civil society organizations from the Western Balkans.

Key topics discussed included “Green infrastructure investments,” “Good Governance in the Environment,” and “Biodiversity and Protection of Natural Resources.” The event saw notable contributions from Kaja Shukova, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Steffen Hudolin from the EU Delegation, and Almira Xhembula, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Albania, alongside numerous international experts and regional representatives.

Minister Shukova emphasized the collaborative efforts with the civil sector in driving North Macedonia and the region closer to European integration and enhancing regional cooperation in environmental and climate fields. She highlighted the significant challenges in aligning with EU directives, particularly the financial and administrative gaps that hinder the effective implementation of the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Steffen Hudolin advocated turning challenges into opportunities through investments in green technologies and infrastructure, emphasizing the critical role of governmental policies in intensifying these processes. He also noted the importance of national budgets allocating funds for biodiversity protection.

Participants raised concerns about the disparity between the financial resources required and those available, primarily provided through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). They discussed the underutilization of these funds due to inadequate administrative capacity at the national and local levels. They suggested that loans, which remain a dominant financing instrument, place economic pressure on the region, stifling investments in green infrastructure.

The discussions underscored the need for EU solidarity in fund allocation, akin to European Structural Funds, involving all levels of authority and stakeholders to improve fund utilization. They also stressed the importance of enhancing administrative capacities across the Western Balkans to effectively handle the complex EU environmental and climate acquis.

The event concluded with calls for significant investment in biodiversity and natural resource protection, aligning with the EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy to manage protected areas effectively and protect significant land and marine areas. It also highlighted the role of the private and banking sectors in supporting these initiatives through continuous efforts towards a blue and green/circular economy aligned with EU environmental standards.

These discussions and recommendations from the “Climate and Green Agenda” were presented at the 2023 Civil Society and Think Tank Forum, organized by the Open Society Foundations—Western Balkans, in partnership with the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) and the Cooperation and Development Institute (CDI).