RCC to host the Third Annual Ministerial Meeting on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in Zabljak
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro under the Montenegro’s Chairmanship of the 2026 Berlin Process, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), under the framework of Regional Climate Partnership between Germany and the Western Balkans Six, and with the support of the European Commission, will organise the Third Annual Ministerial Meeting on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB) on 18-19 September 2026 in Žabljak, Montenegro.
Media are invited to take footage and photographs during the opening addresses and welcome remarks, on 18 September 2026 starting at 09:30 and ending at 10.10 in Hotel Nordic in Zabljak.
Media are also invited to take footage during the concluding part of the ministerial programme, endorsement of the 2026 GAWB Ministerial Declaration on 18 September 2026 starting at 12.00.
Following the conclusion of the ministerial segment, Secretary General Amer Kapetanović, Minister Damjan Ćulafić and Parliamentary State Secretary Bettina Hagedorn will give separate statements to the media, on 18 September 2026 starting at 12.15. Given the limited time available in the programme, we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate questions during the statements. We thank you for your understanding.
Media interested in a short individual interview with RCC Secretary General regarding the conference are invited to contact the RCC Communications Team in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate the requests.
The meeting will start with the high-level opening followed by a ministerial session focusing on progress achieved across the Western Balkans Six, shared challenges, strategic priorities and the region’s continued commitment to cooperation under the Green Agenda, followed by an exchange with regional and international partners.
Held under Montenegro’s 2026 Chairmanship of the Berlin Process, the meeting will bring together ministers from the Western Balkans Six, representatives of the European Commission, Germany, regional organisations and international partners to review progress in implementing the Green Agenda and provide political guidance for the next phase of its implementation. Discussions will focus on climate resilience, biodiversity and nature protection, circular economy, water resilience and sustainable finance, as well as on strengthening regional coordination ahead of the 2026 Berlin Process Summit.
The first day of the meeting is expected to result in the endorsement of the 2026 GAWB Ministerial Declaration, setting the political direction for the next phase of implementation, as well as political endorsement of key regional deliverables, including the WB6 Climate Adaptation Strategy, WB6 Biodiversity Strategic Plan 2030, WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, Regional Pledge on phasing out the five most littered single-use plastics, and the Regional Extended Producer Responsibility Framework for Plastic Packaging. The second day of the meeting will focus on practical regional exchanges on plastic pollution and Extended Producer Responsibility, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, and strengthening monitoring and reporting systems and sustainable finance, with discussions centred on implementation challenges, regional cooperation and next steps.