This year’s “EU Green Week” was officially opened today with the presentation of the “Green Innovation Leaders 2026” awards to the 15 most successful initiatives implemented with the support of the “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia” project from 2022 to date.
The awarded innovations accelerate decarbonisation, promote the circular economy, improve air quality, and protect nature and biodiversity. They have been implemented by companies from the private and public sectors, local self-governments and civil society organisations.
The awards were presented by the Ambassadors of the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden, the Assistant Minister of Environmental Protection for Nature Protection, the UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia, and the Head of the European Investment Bank’s Regional Hub for the Western Balkans.
“This year’s EU Green Week, with its inspiring slogan ‘Together Towards a Nature-Positive Economy’, reminds us of the vital role nature plays in sustaining our lives, as well as our shared responsibility to protect and invest in it. The 15 award winners embody precisely that spirit. Their work proves that Serbia’s green transition is already well under way – in classrooms, in local communities, in forward-looking companies and in people’s everyday choices. The European Union stands firmly with Serbia on its path towards a greener, more resilient and more competitive economy”, said EU Ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath.
“Switzerland’s experience shows that environmental sustainability, innovation and economic competitiveness can go hand in hand. Protecting natural resources and improving environmental performance are not obstacles to growth. On the contrary, they are increasingly becoming important drivers of resilience, productivity and long-term prosperity. Today’s award winners confirm this. They show that environmental responsibility and business success can reinforce each other,” said Swiss Ambassador Anne Lugon-Moulin, adding that Switzerland is proud to support Serbia’s green transition by encouraging innovation, strengthening the role of the private sector and helping to lay the foundations for a sustainable green finance ecosystem.
“The results achieved through the ‘EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia’ initiative show that when knowledge, innovation and financing come together, they create solutions that are practical, scalable and have a strong impact on both the environment and society. Given Sweden’s focus on nature protection, especially wetlands, it is a particular pleasure to recognise protected area managers and their work on nature-based solutions – combining ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection and sustainable land management in close cooperation with local communities,” said the Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Charlotte Sammelin.
Among the award winners are Impol Seval, AIK Bačka Topola and PUC “Gradske toplane” Niš, which have used modern technologies to reduce air pollution and improve energy efficiency. RKS Kompoziti Čelarevo, Champicomp Kovin, Repol d.o.o., as well as the Subotica Regional Landfill, received awards for turning waste into a valuable resource through recycling and sustainable waste management. In addition, the innovations of the Municipality of Sokobanja, Zorka Šabac and the company Silbo were recognised for the use of geothermal energy, optimisation of industrial processes and introduction of advanced cooling systems, which have reduced harmful emissions and improved air quality.
Initiatives for the protection of natural habitats and rare species were awarded to PE “Drugi oktobar” Vršac, PE “Vojvodinašume”, Tara National Park, the “Jadovnik” Association and the Deliblato Lake Special Nature Reserve.
“By increasing energy efficiency, making greater use of renewable energy sources, improving resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis, reducing pollution and GHG emissions, and preserving biodiversity, Serbia is systematically moving closer to European standards in the field of environmental protection and climate change. Our goal is clear – to continue encouraging innovations such as those we are awarding today, because they show that the green transition is not a cost, but an investment in a more competitive economy, the preservation of biodiversity and a better quality of life for all citizens of Serbia,” said Tatjana Gelić, Assistant Minister for Nature Protection at the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
“Since 2022, together with the partners of the ‘EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia’ initiative, we have supported more than 90 innovative green solutions and investments by the private and public sectors, local self-governments and civil society. The 15 green innovations that we have awarded today clearly show that the green transition is already bringing concrete benefits to both the economy and citizens. Across the country, they are already contributing to reducing harmful emissions and waste, improving air quality, protecting nature and rare species, strengthening the competitiveness of companies, and creating new jobs,” said Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia.
“Today’s award winners show that innovation and sustainability go together. Their work demonstrates that forward-looking companies can open up new opportunities, create jobs and drive decarbonisation. Partnerships are key to this. Together with all partners within the ‘EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia’ initiative, the European Investment Bank is proud to support the transition towards a greener, more resilient and more sustainable future,” said Mr Damjan Sorel, Head of the European Investment Bank’s Regional Hub for the Western Balkans.
The second part of the programme featured an inspiring dialogue among experts from the financial sector, dedicated to green investments and opportunities for financing green, sustainable solutions in Serbia.
The experts agreed that green financing in Serbia is already delivering concrete results, with support models becoming increasingly accessible and growing interest from the business sector in investing in sustainable projects. The importance of blended finance was particularly highlighted, as it brings together public, private and international donor funding to further accelerate the implementation of green investments.
The event was organised within the “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia” project, which, with the financial and technical support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in cooperation with Sweden and the European Investment Bank, with additional funding from the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and the Republic of Serbia.