Western Balkans EUKI Networking Conference
The 2023 Western Balkans EUKI Networking Conference will bring together practitioners and policy makers in the field of climate action from the six Western Balkan countries, Germany and other neighbouring EU member states. The conference will provide a space for dialogue between civil society, local and national policy makers on the pathway of implementing the Western Balkans Green Agenda. The participating EUKI projects will be able to share good practices in implementing and fostering the Green Agenda in the Western Balkans and learn from each other.
Tirana, Albania (+Livestream online)
25 September 2023 - 27 September 2023
Conference Report
The EUKI Academy summarised the full event, which consisted of keynotes, panel discussions, group sessions and other networking opportunities. Read the conference report here.
Registration
Registrations are now open until 25 September. To register please use this form.
Agenda
| Day 1 | EUKI CAPACITY BUILDING AND NETWORKING |
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Coffee and Registration |
| 09:30 – 09:40 | Welcome and Introduction – of EUKI capacity building session on the Green Western Agenda for the Western Balkans
A part dedicated to capacity building, further collaboration opportunities and knowledge exchange. Networking and thus strengthening the EUKI community in the Western Balkans. Welcoming statements and introduction
|
| 09:40 – 10:15 | Presentation of EUKI programme & Getting to know each other
|
| 10:15 – 10:40 | Session 1 – The road toward achieving Green Deal targets for the Western Balkan countries
|
| 10:40 – 11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Session 2 – Where the EU is going for 2030 and the targets we should follow
|
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Session 3 – What civil-society-organisations can do to effectively engage in planning, implementing, and overviewing chapters of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
|
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00 – 14:15 | Session 4 – Presenting the multitude of stakeholders relevant for the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
|
| 14:15 – 15:15 | Session 5 – How to prepare initiatives that can be supported targeting the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
|
| 15:15 – 16:00 | Closing Remarks and Coffee Break |
| 16:00 – 17:30 | Opening Words
by Ulrike Leis, Deputy Director, EUKI Secretariat Official Founding of the Climate Bridges Network Joining the EUKI project Climate Bridges through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to found the “Climate Bridges Network”. Moderated by Wolfgang Pfefferkorn, Project Manager, CIPRA |
| 17:30 – 20:00 | Evening Reception
Welcoming remarks by
Moderated by Ulrike Leis, Deputy Director, EUKI Secretariat Joint Networking and Dinner |
| Day 2 | MAIN CONFERENCE DAY |
| 08:30– 09:00 | Registration of participants |
| 09:00– 09:15 | Welcome and Introduction
by Elsa Benhöfer, EUKI Academy Coordinator, EUKI Secretariat |
| 09:15 – 10:30 | Session 1 – Fostering the cooperation of civil-society-organisations and policy level for the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
Project implementers and policymakers will go into groups to discuss challenges, potentials and needs especially in regard to cooperation between civil society and policy-level. |
| 10:30– 11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Official Opening
How to strengthen climate and energy policy issues in the region through dialogue between EUKI projects, national policy makers and civil society from the region, the EU and EU Member states.
|
| 11:15 – 11:30 | Keynote – Existing implementation measures of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in the region: Challenges and Opportunities for Decarbonisation
|
| 11:30 – 13:00 | Session 2 – Status Quo – Implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
High-level representatives of the Western Balkan countries provide an outlook and discuss the next steps of implementing the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in their countries and the region, with a focus on: Exploring decarbonization pathways for various sectors, Just Transition and Social Equity, Renewable Energy Transition and civil society engagement. Panel Chair/ Discussion (40 min):
Q & A Moderator: Edlir Vokopola, Director of Planning and Development, Urban Research Institute Group Photo |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Networking and Lunch Break
With a Market Fair by EUKI Projects |
| 14:30– 15:45 | Session 3 – How EUKI projects and EU policy can strengthen the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
This session will provide an overview of EUKI’s engagement in the Western Balkans. Based on the topics and ideas discussed in the group work. The panel will shed light on potential ways to collaborate between CSO, EU and national representatives in implementing the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Panel chair/ discussion:
Q & A Moderator: Edlir Vokopola, Director of Planning and Development, Urban Research Institute |
| 15:45 – 16:30 | Closing, Coffee break and Time for Networking
Moderator: Edlir Vokopola, Director of Planning and Development, Urban Research Institute |
| From 17:00 | Optional Walking Tour and Joint Dinner |
| DAY 3 | EUKI FIELD TRIP |
| 09:00 – 12:00 | Visiting the Gustav Mayer School in Tirana with the project Sustainable Urban Transport in Tirana, implemented by the German Development Cooporation (GIZ). Participants will learn about the mobility transition in Tirana and hear what has been achieved in regards to decentralized solar energy and sustainable urban development. |
The European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) contributes to the achievement of the goals of the regional climate partnership by funding civil society projects in the Western Balkans.