Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD)

10/06/2026

Participants of the in Pristina visited Blinaja Hunting Area of Special Importance, ASK Food Company - production of fruits, vegetables, natural juice with brand “Receta e Gjyshes Recetae and Lura Agrotourism, where they get acquainted about local economic activities, rural development, and tourism opportunities.

09/06/2026

Presentation of the outcomes, conclusions, and recommendations of the Working Groups, followed by the formulation and adoption of the Prishtina Agenda 2026.

The Prishtina Agenda sets out the principal conclusions of and serve as a strategic framework for advancing regional cooperation in agricultural and rural development throughout South-East Europe.

📍It reaffirms the European integration process as the central framework for reform, calls for stronger institutional capacity and policy coherence, and underlines the need to address climate resilience, biodiversity protection, sustainable forest management and integrated landscape fire management.
The Agenda further emphasizes generational renewal, inclusive rural development, stronger Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), food security crisis preparedness, and the sustainable development of the wine and viticulture sector.

09/06/2026

Productive and insightful discussions marked Working Group sessions, bringing together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to exchange knowledge and shape future cooperation.

📍 Working Group Topics:
🍇 Wine – climate change adaptation in wine and viticulture sector, strengthening competitiveness and sustainability and and market opportunities for the wine sector.
💡 Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) – advancing innovation, knowledge transfer, generational renewal and advisory services to support modern agriculture.
🌲 Forestry – addressing sustainable forest management, climate resilience, multifunctional role of forests and landscape fire management.
🤝 Berlin Process: Political and Policy Dialogue – fostering regional cooperation, policy alignment, and progress on EU integration priorities.

08/06/2026

🌱 The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food in Skopje officially introduced its Experimental Field in Dolno Lisice a new demonstration area dedicated to research, innovation, and climate change adaptation in agriculture.

The initiative strengthens regional efforts to build climate resilience, promote climate-smart farming practices, and support farmers, researchers, and policymakers across the Western Balkans.

During the ceremony, SWG Secretary General Boban Ilic praised the Faculty’s leading role in climate adaptation research and thanked German Government and international partners for their continued support of sustainable agricultural development and regional cooperation.

This Demonstration Field represents another important step toward a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive agricultural future. 🌾🌍

🔗 https://seerural.org/news/opening-ceremony-of-the-experimental-field-of-the-faculty-of-agricultural-sciences-and-food-in-skopje/

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

The Demonstration Field will serve as a practical platform for testing, showcasing, and promoting innovative climate-smart agricultural practices, helping farmers, researchers, and policymakers develop effective solutions for adapting to the impacts of climate change.

04/06/2026

Our family photo from 😍

Agricultural Policy Forum was held under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development of Kosovo* and the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD) in SEE.

The participants in Agricultural Policy Forum 2026 expressed their sincere appreciation for the support provided by the convening institutions and organizations: the European Commission (Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development), the German Government (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity - BMLEH and Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Italian Government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), Swiss Development & Cooperation and all partner institutions, experts and speakers who contributed to the successful implementation of APF 2026 in Prishtina.


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*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSC Resolution 1244 (1999) and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

03/06/2026

Agricultural Policy Forum focuses on key issues related to EU enlargement and agricultural policy reforms, and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and Moldova. Key topics included climate change adaptation with focus on wine and viticulture, generational renewal in agriculture, biodiversity and forestry policies including integrated landscape fire management, strengthening agricultural innovation and knowledge systems (AKIS).

The panel presentations also explore policy harmonization, institutional reforms, food security mechanisms, and sustainable agricultural development under the EU integration process and the Berlin Process framework.

03/06/2026

📍 This year Agricultural Policy Forum , titled “Agricultural Policy Coherence in South-East Europe: EU Integration Dynamics, Institutional Reforms and Climate Adaptation” gathered more than 110 participants from 14 countries across Europe!

🤝APF as a platform for structured policy dialogue, technical exchange and regional cooperation once again brings together partners from across the Western Balkans and Europe around a shared commitment: strengthening regional cooperation regarding agriculture and rural development and advancing the path toward European integration.

💬"The future of the Western Balkans can only be built through partnership and mutual support. The region needs friends, and those friends are here working together toward a more resilient, innovative agriculture and European future" stated SWG Secretary General, Mr. Boban Ilic.

💬 In a time of rapid change, the European Union remains the roadmap for the region's future development, offering a framework built on stability, prosperity, and shared values. Achieving this vision requires continuous cooperation, innovative solutions, and strong partnerships among governments, institutions, farmers, researchers, and civil society stated Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Mr. Armend Muja.

01/06/2026

🌱Strengthening Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Albania

On 28 and 29 May 2026, Ministria e Bujqësisë dhe Zhvillimit Rural in cooperation with Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD), successfully organized two National Training Workshops for Extension and Advisory Services in Shkodër and Tirana.

The workshops brought together 92 participants from advisory and extension services to enhance their knowledge and skills in climate change adaptation in agriculture. Training topics included soil and water management, climate-resilient crop production, livestock adaptation, and agroeconomics, delivered by experts from the University of Tirana.

The workshops supported the application of the Training Manual for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services – Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture, contributing to stronger and more resilient agricultural advisory systems across Albania.

This activity was implemented within the regional project “Green Agenda for the Western Balkans – Support to the Western Balkan Countries in Climate Change Adaptation,” funded by the German Government through Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ North Macedonia in partnership with SWG RRD.

31/05/2026

On 25 May 2026, Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede in cooperation with Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD) organized the National Workshop “Strengthening Capacities for Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change” in Nikšić, , bringing together 20 representatives of institutions, advisory services, municipalities, and academia.

The workshop was based on the Training Manual for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkans (2026) and focused on key adaptation areas including soil and water management, crop production, livestock systems, and the economic aspects of climate adaptation.

The event reinforced the importance of knowledge exchange, advisory support, and institutional cooperation in building a more climate-resilient agricultural sector in Montenegro.

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

30/05/2026

Poreč, Croatia, hosted the final conference of REVIVE-Business Models in Rural Areas of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, a project that has involved seven pilot areas in Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Greece, and Italy in testing business models and innovative solutions for the development of mountain and rural regions of Mediterranean.

During the two-day conference, project partners, including the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD) are exchanging experiences and reflecting on the achievements of , the challenges faced throughout implementation, and opportunities for future collaboration. The project has focused on tackling key issues affecting rural and mountain areas such as population decline, limited access to services, and insufficient employment opportunities through innovative economic, social, and environmental approaches.

🚀 Discussions also focused on a potential new transfer phase that could expend the project impact across even more regions.

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