Linking Policy with Practice to Support the Regional Green Transition
This week, we are bringing together public officials and policy practitioners from the Western Balkans for the three-day regional workshop “Greening the Policy Cycle: Planning, Coordinating and Reporting”, held in Podgorica, Montenegro from 9–11 June. The workshop focuses on strengthening capacities across the full policy cycle through an integrated green perspective, including policy planning and drafting, coordination across sectors and institutions, and budgeting, monitoring, and reporting. This step-by-step structure supports participants in translating climate and green transition commitments into concrete, implementation-ready public policies.
We were honored to open the workshop with welcoming remarks by H.E. Bernarda Gradišnik, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Montenegro, who emphasized Slovenia’s long-standing commitment to supporting the Western Balkans in strengthening institutional capacity for reforms and advancing the green transition. Ambassador Gradišnik highlighted that the green transition is not only an environmental priority, but also a governance and implementation challenge that requires strong institutions, effective coordination, and sustained capacity for delivery. She further emphasized that it is closely linked to economic modernization, institutional strengthening, and closer alignment with European priorities.
The Ambassador also noted that Slovenia continues to support this agenda through the Greening Human Capital project, which is implemented with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy and the Climate Change Fund, and values the role of the CEF in translating this support into practical, hands-on learning opportunities across the region.
As part of the program, participants yesterday visited Gorica Forest Park in Podgorica, where the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas of Podgorica presented its work on the preservation and management of protected areas. Participants learned more about the importance of urban green spaces, biodiversity protection, and local approaches to sustainable management. The visit included a tour of the Mediterranean Garden, the monument on Gorica Hill, and an exhibition dedicated to the natural and cultural heritage of the area, providing a valuable practical perspective to complement the policy discussions.
These messages continue to resonate throughout the workshop discussions, particularly the importance of moving from commitments to implementation through stronger alignment between policy design, budgeting, and reporting, as well as enhanced institutional cooperation.