Hoxha: The Green Agenda must bring concrete changes for the citizens of the Western Balkans

Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Muamet Hoxha, is attending the Third Ministerial Meeting on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB), taking place on 18 and 19 September in Žabljak, Montenegro. The meeting is held as part of Montenegro’s presidency of the Berlin Process during 2026, the ministry announced.

During the main session with the theme “The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, from commitments to implementation”, Hoxha reaffirmed North Macedonia’s commitment to the Green Agenda and European integration. He said that the next phase should focus on practical implementation, investments and cooperation among the countries of the region.

According to the minister, the Green Agenda must increasingly become a mechanism for implementing regional projects, and not remain just a dialogue forum. Hoxha pointed out that pollution knows no borders and that climate risks affect the whole region, demanding joint solutions, exchange of knowledge and data, alignment of standards, and building regional infrastructure where reasonable.

Hoxha stressed that progress must not be evaluated by the number of adopted documents, but by tangible changes that improve the lives of citizens across the Western Balkans.

Among North Macedonia’s priorities for the upcoming period, the minister mentioned stepping up investments in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, improving climate governance and preparing for the European climate framework. The list also includes a just transition for coal-dependent areas, advancing waste management and circular economy reforms, as well as strengthening measures for climate change adaptation, nature protection and biodiversity conservation.