Montenegro hosts ministerial meeting on Green Agenda for Western Balkans

The Third Ministerial Meeting on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans has commenced in Žabljak, Montenegro. Damjan Ćulafić, Montenegro's Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, opened the session by emphasizing the need for disciplined implementation of regional environmental measures. The agenda includes a ministerial declaration for 2026, a climate change adaptation strategy, a biodiversity strategic plan through 2030, and plans for forest landscape restoration and plastic waste management.

Minister Ćulafić noted that as Montenegro chairs the Berlin Process in 2026, the country aims to ensure that meeting conclusions lead to established responsibilities and deadlines. He highlighted that the Green Agenda is intrinsically linked to Montenegro's EU accession process, impacting sectors such as energy, transport, industry, and agriculture.

In a separate meeting, Minister Ćulafić met with Ivona Živković, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS. They discussed strengthening cooperation regarding climate policies, sustainable development, and the utilization of international funds to meet European standards. Živković reaffirmed the UNDP's commitment to supporting Montenegro's institutional capacity and policy reforms during its new phase of European integration.