Impact and potential of a funding instrument – EUKI’s role towards the green transition

Berlin, Germany - On September 20, Visar Azemi, Executive Director of Balkan Green Foundation (BGF), was part of the EUKI - European Climate Initiative Networking Conference. The event gathered climate leaders and activists from more than 30 European countries.

The panel “Impact and potential of a funding instrument – EUKI’s role towards the green transition” discussed the role that EUKI should play in the countries receiving EUKI funding and exchanged views on the energy crisis and other new issues that need to be addressed as a community. 

BGF’s Executive Director spoke about the important impact that the EUKI’s project “Green Rural Deal” had since its implementation in the regions included. Visar added “The project centers on supporting and empowering municipalities in rural regions in the said countries in cooperation with German municipalities through local capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, and co-creation of concrete projects. The fact that the project targets rural regions is unique on its own. Green Rural Deal we want to transpose the best practices of Germany to the targeted regions. We ensure sustainability in this project, as we leave a hook for a potential continuation of the action. We want to transpose the best practices of Germany to the regions."

The panel concluded with the panelists sharing their thoughts on the “Social Transition Happening with EUKI”. Visar mentioned that “The Green Agenda narrative should be built in the local communities (this narrative shifted towards decarbonization). Public opinion should be with you in this shift. When energy security was in discussion, the EUKI project made us available to the local communities and the government(s). Our German experts proved to them that energy security can be reached with diversification.”

“Green Rural Deal - Sustainable and Smart Transition Strategies for Rural Municipalities” project is supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature, Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, and is an initiation between Balkan Green Foundation, Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie, Germanwatch e.V, Regional Association of Local Government of Western Macedonia and RES Foundation.