Western Balkans ministers adopt Green Agenda 2026

The Third Ministerial Meeting on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans concluded in Žabljak, Montenegro, with ministers from six regional economies adopting a Ministerial Declaration for 2026. This declaration establishes regional priorities for the next phase of the green transition, specifically targeting climate and water resilience, biodiversity protection, circular economy development, and pollution reduction.

A significant component of the agreement is a commitment to reduce the consumption and availability of five specific groups of single-use plastics—including bags, beverage packaging, cups, food containers, and cutlery—by 80 percent compared to 2023 levels by the year 2028. To support this, the countries pledged to establish functional extended producer responsibility systems for plastic packaging.

During the proceedings, Montenegro’s Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, Damjan Ćulafić, emphasized that the agenda is linked to Montenegro’s EU accession process and its role as the 2026 chair of the Berlin Process. He noted that the agenda represents a political commitment to coordinated regional progress as the country works toward defending its constitutional status as an ecological state.

North Macedonia’s Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Muammet Hodža, reiterated the need for tangible outcomes, stating that success should be measured by “concrete benefits for citizens rather than just the number of adopted documents.”