Study visit to Priboj

The second study visit of the Green Rural Deal project was hosted by Priboj Municipality and RES Foundation. The study visit took place in Belgrade and Priboj, from 15 - 18th of November. The main topic of discussion was transformation and the next steps municipalities must take in order to ensure a more sustainable solution for a zero-carbon economy.

The study week in Serbia drew participants from a wide range of areas. Local government experts, key municipal stakeholders from Kamenica, Priboj, and Western Macedonia accompanied by the members of the Green Rural Deal project. The purpose of the study visit was to develop project tools and take the next steps in identifying shared challenges and strategies for a sustainable and smart transformation in chosen municipalities. 

The first day was held in Belgrade, with the Balkan Green Foundation holding the session. The session began with a round of introductions, followed by Ms. Rinora Gojani, BGF's Manager, giving a presentation about the current state of the project and its deliverables.  Three experts from each participating country were invited to express their views on what policies and programs should provide in order to sustainably foster successful transition on the ground.

The session on the second day was held at Priboj. The second session was led by the Association of Local Government of Western Macedonia and focused on the evaluation tool, which is foreseen to be used to assess projects prior to their implementation in different municipalities. Following the meeting, RES Foundation organized a visit to the existing small biomass heating plant as well as the new biomass heating plant which has a capacity of 1.8 MW and was recently launched by Priboj Municipality. 

Green Rural Deal project supports municipalities in regions to build up their transformative capacities and develop suitable solutions for a zero-carbon economy. The project is supported by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU).