Aarhus Centres set priorities for promoting Serbia’s transition to green economy at OSCE-supported discussion in Belgrade

BELGRADE, 6 March 2018 – Green economy and resource efficiency were the focus of a national workshop organized jointly by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) on 5 and 6 March in Belgrade.

The event, which brought together representatives of Aarhus Centres, government, business and academia, kick-started a cross-regional project to strengthen the capacity of the Aarhus Centres to contribute to the transition to green economy and resource efficiency.

Jan Lueneburg, Head of the Democratization Department of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, noted that the workshop built upon earlier activities by the OSCE Mission to Serbia aimed at strengthening economic stability and environmental security in the host country. He referred, in particular, to a country-wide campaign to promote the importance of a circular economy – an economic model that, in contrast to the current linear economy, is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to maximise the utility and value of products, components, and materials at all times.  Circular economy constitutes a core element of green economy, which aims to improve human well-being and social equity while reducing environmental risks. 

“Over 400 business operators, provincial and local decision-makers and civil society organizations across the country have benefited from learning about this new economic model,” said Lueneburg. He added that the campaign was organized by the Mission to Serbia in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the German International Development Agency. 

During the workshop, national and international experts presented good practice examples from Serbia and beyond to show how small enterprises can implement circular economy principles and thereby contribute to increasing economic prosperity while reducing environmental risks.

“The Ministry of Environmental Protection acknowledges the importance of the circular economy as reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, to which the Serbian Government has committed itself,” said Srdjan Stankovic of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. “We welcome the work of the Aarhus Centres to help achieve these goals by promoting awareness and public engagement.”

Jenniver Sehring, Environmental Affairs Adviser at the OCEEA, underlined that the green economy is important in the context of sustainable development. “The transition to green economy needs a strong partnership between civil society, businesses and local communities on the one hand and the government on the other. The Aarhus Centres are well placed to facilitate such partnerships.”

The participants also discussed the Aarhus Centres’ Road Map on Green Economy and Resource Efficiency and concrete proposals for future activities in Serbia.

On the second day, participants paid a field visit to the Doncafe –Strauss Adriatic Group in Simanovci, a company implementing innovative projects based on circular economy principles.

Participant Darija Sajin, Manager of the Aarhus Centre Novi Sad, said: “By acquiring new skills related to circular economy, we will be able to engage in activities aiming to raise public awareness and disseminate information on opportunities for green jobs.  It will also enable us to partner with academic institutions, businesses and local authorities to promote innovations and new sustainable development initiatives.”

The workshop was part of the OSCE project “Promoting the Engagement of Aarhus Centres in Green Economy and Resource Efficiency”, which is financially supported by Austria. It builds on the theme of the 25th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum in 2017, “Greening the economy and building partnerships for security in the OSCE region”.