9
7) Further harmonize national legislation
with relevant EU laws and policies.
In view of progressive integration into the EU, national
legislation should be further improved and harmonized
with the relevant directives, such as the EU Floods
Directive and the EU Water Framework Directive, that
take into account future climate impacts and provide
regular methodological updates and revisions according
to the latest scientific information on climate change.
8) Increase regional coordination
and cooperation on climate change
adaptation.
Subregional coordination and transnational synergies
should be strongly promoted. Policymakers should
consider a (sub)regional approach for investments
in prevention and preparedness in various sectors
to avoid duplications and improve coordination.
Subregional adaptation strategies and plans would
further ensure sustainability at the national level.
The EU Stabilisation and Association Process and
its Regional Environmental Network for Accession
could become the organizing focus for a regional
approach to adaptation. Any new scheme designed
to coordinate and promote regional approaches on
adaptation would do well to take into account the
wide array of organizations, programmes, projects
and activities already in place to move the Western
Balkans towards a climate-proofed future.
9) The Alpine Convention and the
Carpathian Convention can provide
a source of inspiration and act as a
potential model for regional cooperation
and action on mountains in theWestern
Balkan countries.
UNEP could provide the forum to assist in the
development of a (sub)regional approach to climate
change and adaptation in the Western Balkan
Mountains. A strengthened regional co-operative
approach could provide a platform for the design
and implementation of regional climate change
adaptation strategies/action plans, prioritized action
in targeted sectors, and exchange of knowledge and
information (including local adaptation knowledge
and guidelines), further contributing to the
implementation of global Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs) and agreements including
the UNFCCC, Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD), as well as the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).