With the aim of marking the results of the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) programme and in a symbolic contribution to the fight against climate change, the EU, EBRD and and Austria have begun the planting of 1,000 trees in the six Western Balkan beneficiaries. The tree-planting started last week with lime trees in Podgorica in Montenegro and white pine in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the coming weeks the campaign will continue in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The GEFF is supported by the EBRD and co-financed through the EU-supported “Regional Energy Efficiency Programme” WBIF project and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance. It has supported over 9,000 households in the region to improve energy efficiency over the past four years with investments including new windows, insulation, and heat pumps. The programme offers specialised credit lines and grant resources and has financed green technology investments worth over €45 million.

Upon successful completion of the investments, households receive EU-funded incentive grants worth up to 20% of the loan amount, making these investments more affordable to citizens.