On the 11th and 12th of March, 2025 in Bar, Montenegro the First Training and Orientation Meeting Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture took place.
Respecting the commitment that the Western Balkan countries/territories and their respective governments have taken on fulfilling the EU Green Agenda for the region and the continuous work of the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD), SWG initiated the setting up of a Regional Expert Advisory Working Group on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture (REAWG CCAA). This group, composed of different profiles of experts and representatives of relevant authorities from the Western Balkans, aim to contribute by preparing evidence-based policy in the area of climate change adaptation of the agricultural sector.
The group completed its first task and prepared Study and assessment – “Study on climate change adaptation in agriculture – Status and prospects in the Western Balkan economies” in the period 2023 to 2024. The study consists of two parts: Regional Synthesis Report (Volume I) and Economies Reports (Volume II).
As a response on that and a result of the Conclusions from the Ministerial Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture held in Skopje, September 2024, SWG engaged into the new project in cooperation with The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture of Germany: “Green Agenda Western Balkan – Supporting the Western Balkan Countries in adapting to Climate Change”
The key actions proposed include: (a) Establishing a Regional Task Force, comprising of representatives from all Western Balkan countries/territories (done in December 2024); and b) Developing National and Regional Strategic Roadmaps for climate change adaptation in agriculture, focusing both on specific national contexts, as well as shared regional goals, resource pooling, and joint initiatives in Western Balkan countries/territories (to be done by the end of 2026).
In order to better prepare the policy makers and ministry representatives First Training and Orientation Meeting Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture gathering more then 40 representatives of the ministries of agriculture and environment from the WB6 took place. During the two days event participants were able to be presented with the information on climate change adaptation in agriculture in the region to present their national policies and measures and to listen to the German experience in this field.
Also, the training served as an interactive platform in which the participants were able to propose new activities, get involved into the methodology the project will use and get info about their role in project implementation.
This meeting is realized within the framework of the Agricultural Policy Dialogue Germany – SEE.
