Representatives from Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia gathered in Budapest for the ILO–GIZ Just Transition Practitioners’ Workshop, where they discussed policies to advance a just energy transition grounded in decent work and social justice. The event also marked the launch of three Green Employment Diagnostic (GED) reports, offering detailed assessments of the opportunities and risks each country faces as they move toward low-carbon development.
In Montenegro, the findings reveal significant vulnerabilities due to the country’s reliance on tourism, agriculture, and coal-based energy. Without timely policy action, the ILO warns that climate change could cost the economy up to 8% of GDP by 2050. The northern town of Pljevlja, home to the country’s only thermal power plant and its main coal mine, faces particularly difficult transition challenges. The report calls for strong social dialogue, reskilling programs, green skills in technical education, and expanded social protection to support workers and communities. Building a coordinated national platform and better data systems will also be essential.
North Macedonia’s GED report highlights the potential to create 10,000 green jobs by 2035 through targeted investments and inclusive planning. Although sectors such as energy, agriculture, basic metals, and construction are vulnerable, they offer significant opportunities for renewable energy expansion, circular agriculture, and sustainable construction. The report stresses the urgency of adopting a Climate Action Law, improving emissions databases, and strengthening climate-related budgeting. The government’s inclusion of employers’ organizations and trade unions in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 process is viewed as a critical step toward ensuring a fair transition.
Serbia’s report emphasizes both the country’s climate achievements and its challenges. Despite cutting greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 29% since 1990, Serbia remains highly dependent on lignite, which supplies 62% of its electricity. The GED findings estimate that up to 150,000 green jobs could be created by 2035 in sectors such as manufacturing, renewables, construction, agriculture, and waste management. While Serbia adopted a Just Transition Plan for the energy sector in July 2025, gaps in worker and employer involvement and implementation remain. The report calls for stronger coordination, clearer definitions of green jobs, and integrated just transition policies supported by social protection to safeguard vulnerable communities.
Throughout the workshop, participants emphasized the importance of social dialogue as the foundation of a fair transition. Employers voiced concerns about the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and its implications for competitiveness, stressing the need for balanced, dialogue-driven solutions. Discussions underscored the shared path forward: building strong evidence, ensuring inclusiveness, and enhancing inter-ministerial coordination to implement effective climate and employment policies.
The ILO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peer learning, social dialogue, and capacity building across the three countries, ensuring that workers and communities are not left behind as the region advances toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.
