60th Assembly of the SWG and first "Sherpa Meeting" on the Berlin Process: Setting the course for a sustainable future in the Western Balkans

The 60th Assembly of the Standing Working Group (SWG) for Regional Rural Development in South East Europe took place from Sep 4-5, 2024 at the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) at the picturesque Griebnitzsee near Potsdam. The progress made by the working groups and projects since April 2024, the results of the Agricultural Policy Forum 2024 and the upcoming annual meeting of agriculture ministers from South East Europe were discussed and internal matters dealt with.

Moreover, the first "Sherpa Meeting" on the Berlin Process on food and agriculture was held. The meeting was chaired by the Federal Foreign Office and also involved the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMWK) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). In addition to all the agriculture ministries of the six Western Balkan countries, representatives from Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Croatia, Poland and Hungary were also involved.

The focus was on close cooperation between the Western Balkan countries on agriculture, food, rural development and food security. The SWG plays a key role here by acting as a driving force for the sustainable development of the region and pursuing the goal of a common green future. It is already clear that the upcoming SWG meeting of agriculture ministers in Skopje, North Macedonia, is expected to make a substantial contribution to this year's Berlin Process. The aim is to further intensify cooperation and promote sustainable solutions for the region.