EU4Green

What's next!? In March the focus is on Circular Economy and Green Finance, with a Green Budgeting workshop coming up in Sarajevo this week, and the important topic of Extended Producer Responsibility being tackled at the regional workshop in Belgrade, followed by a site visit Beo ?ista Energija. Stay tuned, keep an eye out on the local EU4Green pages on Facebook and Instagram, and of course surf to our Youtube channel for interesting videos! Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission WeBalkans Laura Hohoff Philippitsch Violeta Olga Zhminko Branka Ilakovac Irida Haxhi Nenad Konstantinovi? Mak Kapetanovic

?? Strengthening Air Quality Standards in the Western Balkans ?? On 26 February 2025, more than 40 participants from the Western Balkans joined the EU4Green webinar on the Revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (EU) 2024/2881. This newly adopted Directive sets stricter standards for air pollutants, introduces new monitoring and reporting requirements, and strengthens access to justice for citizens. With expert insights from #Austria, #Sweden, and #UNICEF, the webinar explored key topics such as: ? New air quality standards and monitoring obligations ? The impact on public health – especially children’s well-being ? Implementation experiences from EU Member States ? Legal aspects, including access to justice and compensation for damages A huge thank you to our esteemed speakers: ?? Iris Buxbaum, Umweltbundesamt (Austria) ?? Antonia Massauer, Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action ?? Matthew Ross-Jones, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency ?? Antonio Jovanovski, UNICEF ?? Christian Nagl, EU4Green As the Western Balkans move towards aligning with EU environmental standards, discussions like these are essential to ensuring cleaner air and healthier communities. #AirQuality #EU4Green #WesternBalkans #EnvironmentalPolicy #Sustainability Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission WeBalkans UNICEF Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilit?t, Innovation & Technologie Laura Hohoff Philippitsch Violeta Branka Ilakovac Irida Haxhi Nenad Konstantinovi? Mak Kapetanovic

?? Agriculture is at a crossroads. With climate change accelerating and soil health declining, we urgently need solutions that restore ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and secure food for future generations. In case you missed it, make sure you catch up on the #EU4Green podcast episode about #SustainableAgriculture, in which experts Ordan Chukaliev and Bettina Schwarzl speak about the transformative approach in agriculture, exploring how it can rebuild soil fertility, support rural communities, and make our food systems more resilient. ?? Watch the episode at: https://lnkd.in/dwynVvPJ Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or pose questions in comments ?? #RegenerativeAgriculture #Sustainability #SoilHealth #ClimateAction #FutureOfFood Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission WeBalkans Laura Hohoff Philippitsch Violeta Branka Ilakovac Irida Haxhi Nenad Konstantinovi? Mak Kapetanovic

?? EU Report on the Status of Environment & Climate in the Western Balkans for 2024?? The European Commission has published a new report providing an in-depth look at the state of the environment and climate in the Western Balkans. The report highlights key gaps in alignment with EU standards. The report supports the Green Agenda for the region, with a focus on depollution and decarbonization while also addressing broader environmental challenges. ?? Key insights: ??? Climate change drives shifts in rainfall patterns, droughts, groundwater levels, forest fires, and heat waves. ?? Air pollution remains a major concern, with PM2.5 still posing serious health risks despite declining trends in some pollutants. ? Sulphur oxide emissions are rising, exceeding permitted levels, while GHG emissions stagnate, falling short of 2030 reduction targets. ?? Soil degradation, caused by erosion, pollution, and poor nutrient management, is widespread, but data gaps limit a full assessment. ?? While investments in wastewater infrastructure and regulatory improvements are evident, untreated wastewater and agricultural runoff continue to challenge water management. The findings highlight the need for stronger implementation of environmental policies and accelerated action to align with EU climate goals. Reducing transboundary pollution in the Western Balkans is not just a regional issue—it has direct implications for neighboring EU countries as well. ?? Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dwS85Swb #WesternBalkans #ClimateChange #GreenAgenda #EUGreenDeal #Sustainability #Decarbonization #Depollution Philippitsch Violeta Laura Hohoff Branka Ilakovac Nenad Konstantinovi? Mak Kapetanovic Irida Haxhi @Andreas Bartel Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission

Green Budgeting Workshop, day 2: From Strategy to Action ???? The second day of the Green Budgeting Workshop in Prishtina, organized under EU4Green, focused on turning strategy into action by integrating #Green #Budgeting into national financial systems. ?The discussions explored the alignment between Green Budgeting and Green Bonds, emphasizing how financial policies can drive sustainability. ?The World Bank Group presented case studies from Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, showcasing climate budget tagging and taxonomy development as essential tools for integrating environmental priorities into public finance. ?Participants engaged in a hands-on Green Budgeting, an exercise led by Kerstin Haider applying climate impact assessments to real budget lines. As a closing activity, the participants brainstormed outlining next steps in the local action plan, moderated by Olga Zhminko : which targets to be prioritized, how institutional coordination shall function, development of methodology and governance. ?? Moving Forward: The workshop laid the foundation for embedding Green Budgeting into national financial systems, ensuring that fiscal strategies actively support sustainability goals. As economies transition toward greener policies, financial decisions must reflect environmental commitments—because sustainability is not an option; it is a necessity. #GreenBudgeting #SustainableFinance #EU4Green #WesternBalkans #ClimateAction #PublicFinance #GreenAgenda Baiba Gaile Christoph Chrysalis Sasa Eichberger Olga Zhminko Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria Hannah Bartels European Commission Philippitsch Violeta Laura Hohoff Branka Ilakovac Irida Haxhi Nenad Konstantinovi? Mak Kapetanovic Maliq Pireci

?Green Budgeting Workshop: Building Capacity for a Greener Economy! ?? The Green Budgeting Workshop in ??Prishtina, led by Kerstin Haider from the Austrian Ministry of Finance, marked a crucial step in kicking off the Green Budgeting process in Kosovo ???? and North Macedonia ???? . Organized under EU4Green, the workshop aimed to build capacity, create a common language, and enable participants to integrate Green Budgeting into national financial systems. ?? Why Green Budgeting? As Mr. Vadim Stirbu from the EU Office in Kosovo emphasized, the Hamburg Declaration (2014) set the foundation for aligning fiscal strategies with environmental goals. Yet, as noted by Mr. Salvador Elmazi from the Kosovo Ministry of Finance, budget planning still lacks coordination with environmental priorities. ?? Workshop Objectives: ? Inclusion of the Green Agenda in national budgets across ministries and authorities. ? Directing funding toward greening the economies. ? Impact analysis of national budgets to ensure sustainable investments. Austria’s experience showcased how Green Budgeting can bridge finance and climate policy. As climate risks grow, aligning fiscal decisions with sustainability is no longer optional—it’s essential. ??Looking ahead to Day 2: Practical steps and action planning to embed Green Budgeting in national systems. #GreenBudgeting #SustainableFinance #EU4Green #WesternBalkans #ClimateAction #PublicFinance #GreenAgenda Olga Zhminko Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria Hannah Bartels European Commission Philippitsch Violeta Laura Hohoff Maliq Pireci Jonida Naqellari Branka Ilakovac Irida Haxhi Mak Kapetanovic Nenad Konstantinovi?

??? EU4Green Podcast: Protecting Nature and Economic Development in the Western Balkans "What is the biggest challenge the Western Balkans face in balancing biodiversity protection with economic development, and how are these challenges being addressed?" Our latest podcast episode delves into this crucial topic with experts from the region and Austria. Discover how natural resources can be preserved while fostering economic growth. Listen to inspiring stories and practical solutions shaping a sustainable future for the Western Balkans.???? ?? Watch the full episode on the EU4Green YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/dSJSfpbH #Biodiversity #EconomicDevelopment #WesternBalkans #SustainableDevelopment #Podcast Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission Philippitsch Violeta Laura Hohoff Katharina Huchler Branka Ilakovac Mak Kapetanovic Irida Haxhi Nenad Konstantinovi?

?? Online Workshop on Air Pollution & Ecosystems! ?? On February 11, 2025, experts, stakeholders, and institutions came together for the Online Workshop organized by EU4Green: Monitoring of Air Pollution Impact on Ecosystems under NECD: GIS-WS. ?? Key discussions included: ? Ecosystem monitoring and data processing for air pollution impact assessment. ? GIS-based site selection for improved environmental monitoring. ? Country updates on mapping progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. ? Identifying gaps and defining next steps for more effective air quality and ecosystem protection. This workshop provided valuable insights into data-driven approaches for ecosystem monitoring and reinforced regional cooperation for environmental sustainability. A big thank you to all participants and contributors for making this event a success! Let’s keep working towards a greener future. ?? Philippitsch Violeta Laura Hohoff Branka Ilakovac Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission Irida Haxhi Mak Kapetanovic Nenad Konstantinovi? Christian Nagl Djukic Ika #EU4Green #AirPollution #EcosystemMonitoring #GIS #Sustainability #NECD #EnvironmentalProtection #WesternBalkans

???? Remember Maja Halilovi? from our Green Skills video series? Her pioneering work in #biodesign is truly inspiring! Many viewers have shared how her #innovations opened their eyes to the incredible possibilities of #sustainable #design—proving that we can protect the environment while creating beautiful, functional products for daily life. ??? Here are some of Maja’s most powerful messages — reminding us that what we do today shapes a better world for tomorrow. Each of us has a role in building a greener, healthier future for ourselves and for the next generations. ???? ?? Watch (or rewatch!) the video on our YouTube channel and let Maja’s insights inspire you! Let us know — do you agree with her vision? ???? #EU4Green #BIODESIGN #future #environment #design #biological #organic #products #fashion #textile #innovation #bold #brave #curious #new #next #generations Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission Maja Halilovi? Philippitsch Violeta Laura Hohoff Branka Ilakovac Irida Haxhi Nenad Konstantinovi? Mak Kapetanovic

?? EU4Green Publishes Two Key Studies on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture ?? EU4Green has released two studies analyzing the status of climate change adaptation in agriculture across the Western Balkans. The reports assess: ??? Socio-economic developments ??? Soil and water resources ??? Crop and livestock sector ??? Country-specific and regional adaptation strategies ?? Volume I: Cross-Country Synthesis Report ?? Volume II: Economies' Reports These studies are the first joint effort of the Regional Expert Advisory Working Group on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture (CCAA), coordinated by SWG RRD - Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development in SEE, bringing together 50 regional experts to shape strategic approaches for a more resilient agricultural sector. ?? ?? Find the full reports here: https://lnkd.in/dND8myuM #EU4Green #ClimateAdaptation #SustainableAgriculture #WesternBalkans #ClimateResilience #GreenTransition Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria European Commission Philippitsch Violeta Laura Hohoff Branka Ilakovac Irida Haxhi Mak Kapetanovic Nenad Konstantinovi?