The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans

Western Balkan countries aspire to join the EU, necessitating alignment with its climate and environmental policies. At the Sofia Summit in November 2020, the Western Balkan leaders adopted the Green Agenda Declaration, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 2. The EU’s comprehensive policy promotes this agenda, focusing on phasing out coal and shifting to renewable energy. Despite regulatory alignment, the region faces implementation challenges. Nevertheless, there have been achievements and opportunities for improved infrastructure and closer cooperation with the EU.

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The “Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB)”, also referred to as the Sofia Declaration, is a strategic framework aimed at aligning the Western Balkans with the European Union’s Green Deal. It aims to support the region’s transition to a greener economy and better implementation of the Paris Agreement. It emphasizes climate change mitigation, environmental protection, and sustainable development, reflecting the EU’s commitment to assist the Western Balkans in their efforts to combat climate change.

With this declaration, the Western Balkan countries have agreed to work towards reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and to harmonize with the EU ETS, as well as to work on introducing other carbon pricing instruments.

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The declaration emphasizes the importance of the Economic and Investment Plan designed to support the green socio-economic recovery and economic convergence with the EU. The EU has expressed its determination to support Western Balkan countries by stating that it will provide $9.5 billion in grants, potentially attracting an additional $21 billion in investments until 2030.
It also reiterates the commitment to align with the EU's climate and environmental policies, including the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050.

For effective governance and implementation, the declaration calls for improved cross-sector governance and the mainstreaming of green transitions, increasing administrative capacities for the Green Agenda, and participation in regional and pan-European networks and initiatives. It also stresses the need to develop awareness-raising activities and integrate the Green Agenda into education reforms.

Finally, the declaration assigns the Regional Cooperation Council the role of coordinating the preparation of an action plan for implementing the Green Agenda and establishing an effective monitoring system.

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