Europe’s environment 2025 to be launched in Podgorica: Western Balkans’ growing contributi

November 12, 2025

The Europe’s environment 2025 report – the most comprehensive analysis of Europe’s environment, climate and sustainability – will be launched in Podgorica on 25 November 2025, 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 partners: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The launch will be hosted jointly by the EEA and the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro, in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development

Recognising two decades of partnership 

The Europe’s environment 2025 report provides a comprehensive overview of environmental trends, progress and challenges across the continent. It builds on the joint contributions of the six Western Balkan partners and the 32 EEA member countries, showcasing how cooperation strengthens Europe’s shared environmental knowledge base. 

Each participating Western Balkan country has contributed a dedicated country profile, co-created with national institutions, highlighting key achievements in environmental protection, climate action and sustainability. The region’s expanding networks of protected areas are central to these profiles — reflecting growing alignment with European biodiversity and climate objectives. 

Event agenda

Time

Session

08:45 – 09:00

Arrival of participants and registration  

09:00 – 09:15

SESSION 1: Launching Europe’s environment 2025 – context, cooperation, and visibility 

Moderated by: Bojana Obradović 

Welcome and opening remarks 

  • Damjan Ćulafić, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development of Montenegro  
  • Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA)  

09:15 – 09:40

The Western Balkans: commitment, cooperation, and environmental leadership 

  • Milan Gazdić, Director of Environmental Protection Agency Montenegro 
  • TBC: Johann Sattler, EU Ambassador to Montenegro 

09:40 – 10:00

Europe’s environment 2025: Launch, context and purpose 

  • Strategic messages and policy relevance, by Ryong Kim, Head of Sustainability, EEA 

  • From report to resonance: communicating Europe’s environment 2025, by Katja Rosenbohm, Head of Communications, EEA

10:00 – 10:15

Two decades of partnership: EEA and the Western Balkans 

  • Lidija Šćepanović, National Focal Point to the EEA, Montenegro 
  • Luna Kalaš, Project manager – Western Balkans cooperation, EEA 

10:15 – 10:30

Coffee break

10:30 – 10:45

SESSION 2: Western Balkans’ contributions to Europe’s environmental knowledge 

Moderated by: Tobias Lung and Luna Kalaš 

Setting the scene: Key insights and regional perspectives 

Introducing the report structure and anchoring the Western Balkans’ role 

  • Tobias Lung, Senior Expert, EEA 

10:45 – 11:15

National interventions 
Short interventions from each country on environmental challenges, priorities and contributions. 

  • Albania: Oriana Hanxhari 

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina: Tatjana Kapetanović 

  • Kosovo*: Afrim Berisha and Iliriana Orana 

  • Montenegro: Lidija Šćepanović and Jovana Drobnjak 

  • North Macedonia: Katerina Nikolovska 

  • Serbia: Dragana Vidojević 

11:15 – 12:00

National reflections and regional dialogue 

Panel discussion with national and EEA experts 

12:00 – 12:30

Q&A and open floor discussion 

12:30 – 12:40

Closing remarks

The event will be co-organised by the EEA and the Government of Montenegro, with strong support from 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 Republika 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. 

 

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