TIRANA, October 29 /ATA/ – On the 28th of October 2026, H.E. Ms. KATO Kikuko, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Albania, and Dr. Gjergj Murra, Executive Director of the Western Balkans Fund (WBF), signed a cooperation agreement for the project titled “#Beyond27+: The Regional Dialogue on Green Transition”, an innovative initiative aimed at moving the regional green transition beyond legislative alignment towards implementation and tangible impact through organizing a high level conference.
Japan will contribute up to €50,300 to support the WBF in organizing this high-level conference focused on fostering regional green transition, encouraging peer learning, and enhancing cooperation among governments, pioneering cities, civil society, and international partners in the Western Balkans. The project aims to bridge policy-level commitments with practical regional experience, promote cross-sectoral dialogue, and build a lasting regional network that will advance environmental protection as a driver of sustainable economic development in the region.
The project “#Beyond27+” initiative is a part of Japan’s continued engagement under the” Western Balkans Cooperation Initiative”, launched by former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in 2018. This initiative is designed to support socio-economic reforms of the countries in the Western Balkans towards EU accession as well as promotion of regional cooperation. Japan has previously provided financial support to the WBF for projects focusing on issues such as youth leadership, local governance, disinformation, promoting civil society engagement, and countering challenges to regional cooperation.
In the meeting prior to the signing ceremony, Ambassador Kato and Dr. Murra discussed the importance of regional cooperation in the field of green transition towards shaping the future of the region. They emphasized the need for collaborative regional action to act as catalysts for positive change, tackling transboundary issues like climate-related risks and environmental degradation.
Ambassador Kato reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting activities undertaken by WBF, noting that fostering regional dialogue on this theme is an appropriate approach to making regional cooperation truly effective by involving diverse actors from both within and outside the region.
Executive Director Murra expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support.
