Southeast Europe and Caucasus

In Southeast Europe and the Caucasus, municipalities and experts are developing solutions for renewable energy, climate adaptation, and resilience to make cities future-proof.

The Southeast Europe and Caucasus region brings together municipalities, civil society organizations, and research institutions to address challenges in sustainable urban development. Key areas of focus include renewable energy development, sustainable tourism between urban and rural areas, and enhancing Ukraine’s resilience during the ongoing war. This collaborative effort aims to support cities in becoming more sustainable and adaptable to future challenges.

Energy efficient Projects in Batumi, Georgia

Vorderansicht der Schule | Foto: Stadt Cetinje

Other topics include promoting urban biodiversity as a source of income for cities and recreational space for citizens, as well as the protection of human rights at the municipal level. The goal is to spread good practices and develop innovative solutions for the challenges mentioned. We promote exchange within the region and beyond through structured learning processes, Insight Sessions, agile formats, and direct city-to-city exchanges.

Energy efficiency district in Lviv, Ukraine

Our working group “Resilience in Times of War” brings 14 Ukrainian municipalities into intensive exchange with cities from Germany, Poland, and Kosovo. Together, they work on solutions for local economic development, the expansion of renewable energy, and integrated urban development. In collaboration with partners such as the Development Agency Düsseldorf, the Emscher Association/Lippeverband, the EnergyForum Karlsruhe, as well as the cities of Teltow and Munich, a network of cities is being established to promote innovative approaches to strengthening resilience in war-affected regions. The goal is to develop practical solutions and spread good examples for sustainable development under challenging conditions.

Regionale Staatliche Verwaltung Dnipropetrowsk | Foto: Ralph Sondermann

About the Region

The Southeast Europe (SEE) region consists of two interconnected subregions – the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership of the EU – with a total of ten countries. Eight of these countries are EU candidate countries.The political situation in the region, particularly in Georgia, is shaped by geopolitical tensions and the desire for closer EU relations, while internal reforms and ensuring regional stability remain ongoing challenges. Demographic, economic, and political difficulties directly impact urban development. Although there are country-specific differences, the countries share common challenges in areas such as carbon reduction, transport, urban development, waste management, and water and sewage supply. The often-dilapidated housing stock and substandard new buildings from recent decades exacerbate these problems. Despite the diversity in the region, there are many common issues that define the tasks for local governments.

Program Director, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, Association of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia

The workshops of Connective Cities, which consisted of peer learning and practical work on concrete projects, helped me gain insights into the possibilities for renewable energy at the decentralized level. I also learned how we can develop new models that are tailored to the needs of our citizens. And we learned how we can actually get these models adopted and implemented.

Regional Learning Process

in Southeast Europe and Caucasus

Renewable energy options at municipal level

The learning process on “Renewable Energy Options at the Local Level” in Southeast Europe, which began in October 2023 in Tbilisi, was continued in June 2024 with a workshop in Sarajevo. 19 municipalities from seven countries engaged in intense peer-to-peer exchange to refine their projects.

Through workshops and feedback sessions, concrete, actionable solutions were developed, including sustainable financing concepts and energy-efficient technologies for public buildings. The process will continue until March 2025.

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International learning process

Deep Dive

Heat in the City

Six cities – Lüdenscheid and Heidelberg (Germany), Aswan (Egypt), Nairobi and Mombasa (Kenya), and Lviv (Ukraine) – are collaborating from mid-2023 to 2025 as part of the "Heat in the City" learning process.

They are analyzing the effects of heatwaves and urban heat islands in their cities and developing tailored solutions for their local contexts. The goal is to promote urban adaptation to the challenges of climate change.

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