Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD)

12/05/2026

On 19 May 2026, on the margins of the Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair, the German Embassy in Serbia will host a panel discussion bringing together German and Southeast European agribusiness stakeholders.

The event will explore opportunities for investment, innovation, sustainable farming, and stronger regional cooperation in agriculture and food production.

The Novi Sad Fair continues to serve as a leading platform for building partnerships and advancing agribusiness across Southeast Europe.

Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD)
GFA Consulting Group GmbH
IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH

11/05/2026

Regional Conference on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture and Forestry

The Regional Conference brought together policymakers, researchers, forestry and agriculture experts to explore practical adaptation solutions, strengthen regional cooperation, and shift from reactive disaster response to preventive action.

The event was facilitated by the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD), contributing to stronger regional dialogue and knowledge exchange across the Western Balkans.

Key topics included soil health, agroforestry, water management, and climate-resilient forestry practices, all contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future for the WB6 region.

Through interactive plenaries, guided discussions and thematic breakout sessions, participants work toward a shared understanding of climate risks, promote preventive adaptation investments, and identify common regional priorities such as soil health monitoring, drought preparedness, fire management, and stronger knowledge-sharing networks. 🌍🌱

The event also contributed to clear policy recommendations supporting more resilient and sustainable agriculture and forestry across the Western Balkans.

09/05/2026

United for Climate | Towards Climate Resilient Agriculture in the Western Balkans

At the United for Climate Conference, Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD) in SEE, as a long-standing partner of the German Government and GIZ, presented ongoing activities within the Regional Climate Partnership between Germany and the Western Balkans focused on strengthening coordinated climate adaptation efforts across the region.

A key milestone of the process was the establishment of a Regional Task Force composed of representatives from the WB Ministries of Agriculture responsible for climate change adaptation in agriculture and related sectors. More than 30 regional experts have been engaged in the process.

This Conference was the opportunity to present the Training Manual for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in the Western Balkans, covering:
🌱 Sustainable soil management
💧 Water use and climate adaptation
🌾 Crop production adaptation
🐄 Livestock adaptation
📊 Economic assessment of climate adaptation

The Manual represents an important step toward strengthening knowledge transfer, improving advisory services, and supporting farmers across the region in adopting sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Organized by Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Albania, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with SWG the conference brought together institutions, experts, and partners to discuss practical solutions for climate adaptation in agriculture.

Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
GIZ North Macedonia

04/05/2026

The Standing Working Group on Regional Rural Development as a representative of the Western Balkan Soil Partnership participated in the European Soil Partnership Meeting, held online on 23–24 April 2026, contributing to European-level discussions on sustainable soil management.

Bringing together policymakers, researchers and stakeholders, the meeting focused on shaping future guidelines, strengthening soil resilience, and improving coordination across sectors and regions.

More info: https://seerural.org/news/swg-contributes-to-european-soil-partnership-discussions-on-sustainable-soil-management/

The Standing Working Group on Regional Rural Development as a representative of the Western Balkan Soil Partnership participated in the European Soil Partnership Meeting, held online on 23–24 April 2026, contributing to European-level discussions on sustainable soil management.

30/04/2026

The Standing Working Group on Regional Rural Development participated in the 4th Balkan Rural Parliament (21–24 April 2026, Bar), organized by the Balkan Rural Development Network.

With over 80 participants from the Western Balkans and Europe, the event focused on advancing rural democracy and sustainability through cooperation and shared solutions.

SWG played an active role, leading discussions on Generational Renewal in Rural Areas, with a focus on supporting youth through entrepreneurship, better services, and stronger policy support.

The outcomes will contribute to the Balkan Rural Parliament official Declaration, guiding future regional cooperation.

This activity was implemented within the APD SEE project.

More info: https://seerural.org/news/swg-contributes-to-advancing-rural-dialogue-at-the-4th-balkan-rural-parliament/

Bringing together more than 80 stakeholders from across the Western Balkans and Europe, the Parliament—under the theme “From Dialogue to Action: Advancing Rural Democracy and Sustainability in the Western Balkans”—served as a key regional platform to strengthen cooperation, exchange experien...

29/04/2026

Albanien auf Reformkurs und auf dem Weg in die EU: Die Deutsch-Albanische Wirtschaftskonferenz 2026 bringt zentrale Akteure aus Wirtschaft und Politik am 30. April im Haus der deutschen Wirtschaft zusammen.

21/04/2026

The 65th SWG Assembly Session is being held in Chișinău, Moldova, bringing together representatives of SWG member institutions under the hospitality of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of the Republic of Moldova.

The Session focuses on reviewing recent developments in agriculture and rural development across the region, assessing the implementation of ongoing SWG activities, and discussing priorities under the Operational Plan for 2026. The agenda includes updates from the Ministerial Meeting within the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2026, progress on climate change adaptation initiatives, and the work of SWG Regional Expert Advisory Working Groups.

Discussions also address preparations for key upcoming events, including the Agricultural Policy Forum 2026 and the 20th Annual Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture from South-East Europe.

18/04/2026

🌱 How do we keep young people in rural areas?

At the 4th Balkan Rural Parliament, the panel “Generation Renewal in Rural Areas” will focus on one of the region’s biggest challenges: attracting and retaining youth in rural communities.

🤝 Speakers:
• Dushan Neshkovic (moderator)
• Emelj Tuna
• Leotrim Germizaj
• Marta Marczis

💬 Bringing together academic, practical, and EU-level perspectives, the discussion will explore both the barriers and the opportunities for creating conditions where young people can see a future in rural areas.

🌿 From digital connectivity and infrastructure to social life and entrepreneurship, solutions require a holistic approach.



This event is supported by the CEI Cooperation Fund; the German Government through GIZ within the Regional Climate Partnership between Germany and the Western Balkans; EU funded project - Farm to Fork Academy for Green Western Balkans - Our shared European future; RIBES – Regional Inclusive Biobased Entrepreneurship Solutions; and SWG – Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South East Europe.

08/04/2026

📍 Skopje, North Macedonia

SWG RRD and the Association of Science, Education and Cooperation – Association of Faculties of Agricultural Science in Southeast Europe (ASFASEE) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 🤝🌱

This partnership is built on shared goals: advancing sustainable agriculture, modernizing agricultural production, promoting innovative agrotechnological solutions, and strengthening scientific collaboration across the region and Europe. 🇪🇺

06/04/2026

The Third National Workshop on integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Agricultural Policies was held on 30–31 March 2026 in Bečići, Montenegro. 🌱

The event gathered key stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of agriculture to climate change.Participants worked on practical measures and priorities, focusing on sustainable land and water management, climate-resilient crops, and livestock systems.

The workshop concluded with concrete recommendations to support future agricultural policies.

More info: https://seerural.org/news/integrating-climate-change-adaptation-into-agricultural-policies-third-national-workshop-held-in-montenegro/

Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
GIZ North Macedonia

The event brought together a total of 22 participants, including representatives of relevant ministries, members of the expert group, representatives of academic and research institutions, as well as other key stakeholders involved in agriculture and climate change policy. The workshop built on the