The implementation of ideas and projects related to the green transition is already contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to renewable energy sources, the reuse of waste to produce new products, the improvement of air quality, and the preservation of biodiversity—in short, the implementation of the Green Agenda.
Would you like to contribute to environmental protection?
See below for the possibilities in this area:
The Embassy of France is conducting a national competition for sustainable urban development aimed at cities and municipalities in Serbia. The competition seeks to reward excellent initiatives and encourage the exchange of good practices between Serbia and France.
Sustainable water and waste management, energy efficiency, smart cities, and eco-literacy in schools are the main topics of this initiative.
Apply for one or more categories in the contest by filling in the questionnaire, which will be available on the website www.ekoopstina.rs in May. Prizes are also planned.
The New European Bauhaus is an initiative of the European Commission that connects the Green Agenda, as a vision of European development, with concrete living spaces and the experiences of citizens. The New European Bauhaus is also an open invitation to everyone to imagine and build a future together that includes sustainable urban development inspired by art, as well as economic and social development in harmony with nature and a preserved environment.
The initiative provides support in several categories, including:
NEB Award
The four award categories reflect the themes of the transformation of the New European Bauhaus:
- Reconnecting with nature;
- The return of a sense of belonging;
- Prioritising the places and people who need it most;
- Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life cycle thinking.
In each category, there are two parallel competitions:
- Champions – existing and completed projects in accordance with NEB values and principles; the winners receive €30,000 and a communication package.
- Rising Stars – concepts from young talents under the age of 30; the winners receive €15,000 and a communication package.
NEB Festival
The European Commission has invited actors from across the EU and beyond to participate in the second New European Bauhaus (NEB) festival, which will be held in Brussels in April 2024. The accompanying programme will consist of special video events across Europe. You can participate in or contribute to the festival in several ways:
- By presenting a project or invention;
- By participating in the artistic and cultural programme;
- By organising a special video event; or
- Through a media partnership.
The festival will last four days, and the programme consists of four parts:
- Forum – a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas related to the New European Bauhaus;
- Fair – a laboratory and exhibition of projects and inventions in accordance with the values of the New European Bauhaus;
- Fest – a celebration that combines culture, art, and entertainment; a place for communal joy, where freedom of expression is celebrated, and radical, innovative, and revolutionary ideas and visions are embraced;
- Video Events – special events and initiatives in Brussels and beyond, aligned with the values of the New European Bauhaus.
You can find all the opportunities offered by the initiative at the link: https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/get-involved_en
The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is a regional development strategy that aims to address the challenges of climate change and the green transition, and to help the countries of the Western Balkans align their environmental regulations with European standards and norms.
UNDP is implementing the project “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia” with the technical and financial support of the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional financial resources provided by the Swedish government, Switzerland, and Serbia.
The LIFE programme is an EU instrument for financing environmental and climate actions. Founded in 1992, it has co-financed thousands of projects to date. The LIFE 2021-2027 programme is managed by the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment (CINEA) and has a budget of €5.4 billion.
More detailed information about the LIFE programme is available at: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en
Serbian entities can be partners or associates with qualified entities such as EU member states and international organisations, as Serbia is not a participating country in the LIFE programme. Entities in Serbia may participate in other consortium roles, such as associate partners, subcontractors, or third-party contributors.
The credit line for green financing (abbreviated GEFF) is a programme of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that provides funds for financing energy-efficient technologies in households—apartments, family houses, and residential buildings—as well as for companies that produce or sell them. The programme covers the markets of the Western Balkans, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, with a total credit line amounting to €85 million.
The GEFF in the Western Balkans is implemented within the Regional Programme for Energy Efficiency (REEP Plus) and is supported by a grant from the European Union (EU), the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF), and the Federal Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Austria (BMF). Partnering with donors is critical to promoting high-efficiency green technologies and practices. Donors provide essential support to GEFF projects that mitigate the effects of or increase resilience to climate change and other environmental threats.
Partners
Financing through the GEFF occurs through local partner financial institutions (PFIs) that use the credit line to finance borrowers who meet established eligibility criteria for investment in eligible projects.