Germany is set to invest €1.5 billion by 2030 in the Western Balkans‘ green transition, according to plans revealed by GIZ, the German development agency.
At a regional summit held in Skopje, co-organised by ERI SEE and GIZ, speakers emphasised that the green shift cannot rely on infrastructure alone—it must be fuelled by education and skills.
Ilgin Warneke of GIZ was reported to have said that the focus would be on capacity building, modernising education systems, and investing in upskilling.
Alexandru Muresan, a Romanian energy expert and lecturer, reportedly described education as “Europe’s secret weapon” in the green transition, urging proportional investment in both human capital and infrastructure.
Viktor Dimitrievski from EVN Macedonia was quoted as saying that the surge in renewable energy required smarter hiring practices and the development of vocational training through dual education.
Meanwhile, ERI SEE’s director Tina Šarić noted that teachers are key drivers of this shift and stressed the need for education to be fast, flexible, and future-focused.
External expert Aleksandar Macura presented a draft Regional Action Plan aimed at bridging policy gaps and addressing the skills deficit, with the final version expected to be published on ERI SEE’s website.
