The most comprehensive report on Europe’s environment, climate and sustainability —Europe’s environment 2025— is being officially launched today in Podgorica for the Western Balkans region. The event celebrates more than two decades of cooperation between the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the six Western Balkan countries.
The regional launch event brings together EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen and senior environmental representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The event is hosted by the EEA and the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro, in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development of Montenegro.
The comprehensive analysis presented in Europe’s environment 2025 was only made possible through the joint contributions of the six cooperating countries, alongside the 32 EEA member countries. The launch is therefore also an occasion to recognise the region’s growing role in contributing to Europe’s environmental knowledge base and in strengthening environmental cooperation.
These countries are longstanding and valued partners of the EEA. Through the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet), our partners in the Western Balkans have worked for more than 20 years to ensure that environmental data across Europe are robust, reliable and ready to support action. Today is about recognising that effort and raising visibility for their contributions, both nationally and at European level.
The report highlights, through country profiles cocreated by the EEA and national institutions, the progress achieved by the cooperating countries in the environment, climate and sustainability fields, as well as the challenges they continue to face. All six have, for example, expanded or improved their networks of protected areas – a key contribution to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation through carbon-rich ecosystems, and alignment with European biodiversity objectives.
“The Western Balkans are part of Europe’s environmental story, and their role in that story is only growing stronger,” added Ylä-Mononen.
Cooperation between the EEA and the Western Balkans began as early as 2000 and has focused on strengthening environmental monitoring and reporting, aligning with European data standards, and supporting capacity building and knowledge sharing.
High-level participation
The event features keynote speeches by:
- Damjan Ćulafić, Minister of Ecology, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development of Montenegro, Montenegro
- Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director, European Environment Agency
- Milan Gazdić, Director, Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro
Participants include heads of environmental agencies, national focal points, technical experts, EU Delegation representatives and international partners.
The event is co-organised by the EEA and the Government of Montenegro, with the support of national institutions hosting the EEA National Focal Points:
Albania | Environment Protection Agency |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations |
Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
Environmental Protection Fund of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
Ministry of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska | |
Kosovo* | Environment Protection Agency |
Montenegro | Environmental Protection Agency |
North Macedonia | Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning |
Serbia | Environment Protection Agency |
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
