Networking

Countries in the region, through the Green Agenda and the Regional Climate Partnership with Germany, are integrating climate adaptation into agricultural policies and practices. These efforts include climate-informed irrigation, resilient crop varieties, and improved water management.

The Standing Working Group on Regional Rural Development as a representative of the Western Balkan Soil Partnership  participated in the European Soil Partnership Meeting, held online on 23–24 April 2026, contributing to European-level discussions on sustainable soil management.

Bringing together more than 80 stakeholders from across the Western Balkans and Europe, the Parliament—under the theme “From Dialogue to Action: Advancing Rural Democracy and Sustainability in the Western Balkans”—served as a key regional platform to strengthen cooperation, exchange experiences, and co-create solutions for rural development challenges.

Participants exchanged views on the linkages between climate change, human mobility, and security in South-Eastern Europe. The discussions highlighted that climate change is increasingly acting as a threat multiplier in the region, affecting rural livelihoods, water and energy systems, infrastructure, migration patterns, and the green transition.

The SEE delegation participated in high-level discussions on EU organic regulation in the context of accession and regulatory alignment, certification systems and market trends relevant for strengthening Western Balkan organic value chains. Engagement in panel discussions and bilateral meetings supported efforts to build strategic partnerships and enhance regional integration into European organic markets.

The session gathered leading policymakers, institutional representatives, and key stakeholders from the agricultural and rural development sectors to exchange perspectives on the most pressing challenges facing agriculture today. Discussions addressed food security, sustainability, rural resilience, generational renewal in farming, and the strengthening of regional and international cooperation.