Context
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission published on 12 December 2024, the second edition of its report titled "Status of Environment and Climate in the Western Balkans", providing an updated overview of environmental and climate conditions in the region and highlighting gaps in alignment with EU policies.
This report aims to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the current environmental challenges in the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on hydrological aspects, forest fires, and heat waves.
Key Findings
- EU alignment: Air pollutant concentrations are decreasing, but air quality remains an issue in the Western Balkans impacting human health, and slowing the path towards GHG emission reduction goals for 2030.
- Climate Change Impact: The Western Balkans are highly vulnerable to climate change, facing increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, which are an added pressure to soils leading to further degradation.
- Water Status: Despite investments in wastewater and monitoring infrastructures, water management in Western Balkans is still affected by key stressors namely, agricultural runoff and untreated wastewater.
Assessment
The report underlines the urgent need to strengthen environmental and climate management strategies in the Western Balkans. Significant differences remain between the regulatory frameworks of Western Balkan countries and EU environmental directives, requiring further efforts for harmonization. Closer cooperation with the European Union is crucial to progress in the accession process and in the implementation of EU Green Deal measures both at regional and at transboundary level. Promoting sustainable practices is key to ensuring better living conditions for local populations while contributing to global environmental goals.
