On October 16, the Western Balkans summit of the Berlin process was held in Tirana. Albania was thus the first country in the region to host the Berlin process negotiations, welcoming the prime ministers of the six Western Balkan countries, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, several European and financial institutions. and much more. The aim of the Berlin Process is to improve regional cooperation and promote European integration.
Expansion in times of geopolitical crisis
Olaf Scholz’s central statement was: “The future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union. This promise is true. And this applies today more than ever. Scholz makes this promise for several reasons, but there is new urgency due to the war in Ukraine and growing Russian influence. But for me, as a young climate activist, one point, which tends to get less public attention, is particularly important: the potential for climate protection and the possibility of the EU considering its expansion as an effective element of its climate foreign policy.
An ambitious climate foreign policy requires enlargement of the European Union
Climate change is a looming crisis caused by states with an industrial past, the consequences of which are initially suffered by countries that do not have sufficient resources to take mitigation measures. Therefore, for Albanian activists, EU membership is not just an aspiration; it is a way forward to achieve ambitious climate protection goals and secure their future. As a young person who studied earth science and environmental engineering, I believe that our theoretical and scientific abilities are exhausted. The only area where we can contribute is that of environmental governance, a concept that encompasses decision-making aspects related to climate change measures. Through my training and work for one of the most important environmental organizations in the country, REC Albania, I have actively participated in youth forums and various conferences with the aim of strengthening the capacities of young people in matters of environmental governance. Many of these projects and initiatives are funded by the EU or by the national institutions of EU member states. The most recent example is the Climate ConnAction Fellowship, organized by Das Progressive Zentrum, which brings together 25 young people from Southeast Europe and Western Balkan countries to foster networking among themselves and elevate the concept of environmental governance at a higher level.
Demand and promote as a guiding principle
In the context of the global climate crisis, the European Union and its expansionary policies are seen as a model for climate activists in countries like Albania, with EU membership seen as a crucial factor in promoting climate and environmental protection efforts. By becoming a member of the EU, Western Balkan countries would be required to meet the ambitious climate protection targets set by the Union. This commitment assures climate activists that their governments will implement strict measures to combat climate change, as stipulated in Chapter 27 of the accession process. In Albania’s case, the biggest success so far has been its commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at COP26, which is in line with the EU’s ambition. In addition, EU membership results in the allocation of new funds to candidate countries, part of which is devoted to processes of adaptation or mitigation of climate change. These additional funds, combined with the policy solutions outlined in the accession chapters, provide hope and assurance that in small countries like Albania in the Western Balkans, solving climate problems will not be overshadowed by other regional challenges.
Collaboration is the key to successful climate diplomacy
The results of this year’s Berlin Process negotiations are the latest example of how EU expansion efforts can work as an immediate climate foreign policy. The focus has been on decarbonising the energy supply and switching to renewable energy. A regional “Germany-Western Balkans climate partnership” has been decided, which supports the fight against climate change and the use of renewable energies. Germany will co-finance this project with 1.5 billion euros until 2030. In addition, Germany will provide an additional 73 million euros for the new project “Climate Program Albania”, which aims to advance climate change. integration of renewable energies.
Technical assistance, access to green technologies and increased financial support for government institutions as well as civil society are pieces of the puzzle in the fight against the climate crisis and for a just transition. Without these pillars of support, the Western Balkans will struggle to secure funding for climate change measures and will fall behind technologically, leading to isolation on climate protection measures. Beyond these measures of concrete material support, the Western Balkans need membership in the EU as a regulatory and guiding entity for the work of their respective institutions and young activists like us, with the aim of ‘expand our networks and engage in more productive work in the near future.
