In order to improve environmental standards and promote sustainable development in the countries of the Western Balkans, the leaders of the region adopted the Green Framework for the Western Balkans in October 2021. Through the Action Plan, he defines 58 actions and goals that are grouped into five pillars and seven thematic roadmaps. However, this Green Framework faces numerous challenges in implementation, as well as monitoring progress, as pointed out by non-governmental organizations.
Although it has the potential to significantly contribute to environmental standards in the region, in the last three years minimal progress has been achieved in the implementation of actions from the Action Plan. Research has shown that significant revisions are needed in order to achieve the set goals.
The CEE Bankwatch Network, a network of non-governmental organizations dealing with environmental protection and sustainable development in Central and Eastern Europe, announced on its official website that non-governmental organizations (NGOs), along with it, expressed concern about the lack of public consultation and the involvement of civil society in the process of making and implementing this plan. That is why non-governmental organizations launched proposals to improve the Green Framework.
Among the first proposals, the importance of clearly defining the roles of governments in the implementation of the plan is highlighted. At the moment there is ambiguity regarding the responsibility of national governments and regional bodies, which makes it difficult to monitor and report on the results that have been achieved. NGOs are asking governments to make more concrete commitments and to report regularly on progress to enable better transparency.
Considering this, as NGOs point out, the governments in the region do not have enough capacity, both human, technical and financial, to implement all the planned actions set by the Action Plan. That is why it is requested that priority be given to those actions that will bring the greatest benefit to people and the environment.
Non-governmental organizations suggested that the thematic roadmaps be more clearly integrated into the Action Plan in order to better link activities, indicators and responsible institutions, which would facilitate monitoring of progress. Also, they ask for the addition of key elements such as time frames, implementation bodies and estimates of the necessary financial resources in order to achieve greater transparency and efficiency in the implementation of the plan.
Finally, as another example of the proposal, the importance of harmonizing with the legislation of the European Union in the field of environmental protection was highlighted. NGOs believe that there will be no permanent positive changes without a solid legislative framework.
If the proposals were adopted, the Green Framework would become an effective tool for achieving sustainable development and improving the environment in the countries of the Western Balkans. The environmental crisis requires an urgent response from European and regional leaders, so that the implementation of reforms includes greater participation of civil society, clearly sets the obligations of governments and concrete actions that will bring real changes.
Energy portal
Source: energetskiportal.rs
