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A report by ClientEarth, EuroNatur and Riverwatch, providing an interim assessment of how effectively six Western Balkan countries are safeguarding their rivers by incorporating key EU laws related to hydropower projects into their national legislation.
The analysis reveals that despite significant variations in the adoption of EU environmental law among these countries, in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, there has still been some progress. However, the report also highlights specific systemic failures to comply with the EU framework concerning environmental law, which prevent effectively protecting the region’s rivers.
The report also identifies the most critical issues needed to support future legislative and enforcement efforts in the region, offering practical guidance for stakeholders navigating the evolving legal landscape to help improve environmental standards for river protection in the Western Balkans and beyond.