15/05/2026 The newly adopted NALAS policy position on Strengthening the Role of Local Government Associations in Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning in South-East Europe marks an important step toward more coordinated and effective sustainable urban mobility governance across the region.
It provides a clear roadmap and a set of recommendations for Local Government Associations in policy dialogue and cooperation with national institutions, supporting the development of National Sustainable Urban Mobility Support Programmes, strengthened local government capacities, peer exchange, improved data collection, and enhanced monitoring and reporting systems.
The NALAS Thematic Expert Group on Climate Resilience and Sustainable Urban Mobility played an active role in developing the NALAS policy position and its recommendations. The document was developed in parallel with the Policy Framework and Roadmap for Integrated Sustainable Urban Mobility in the Western Balkans, a joint effort by the Transport Community, GIZ, NALAS, and CIVINET Slovenia–Croatia–SEE, which focuses on National SUMP Support Programmes as the key mechanism for enabling local governments to prepare and implement high-quality Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans.
The NALAS Expert Group met within the framework of the United for Climate Conference in Tirana (5–7 May 2026) to discuss next steps for operationalising the NALAS policy position and the Western Balkans framework. Members exchanged views on key recommendations and practical steps for advancing SUMP development, including financing options and methodological tools.
NALAS and its member associations also actively participated in discussions and panels of the United for Climate: Regional Cooperation for a Resilient Future conference, contributing to sessions dedicated to Sustainable Urban Mobility for Climate Adaptation.
In addition, over recent months, representatives of the NALAS Expert Group participated in capacity development activities under the WB Adapt project, including the second module of the Climate-Resilient Sustainable Urban Mobility Academy in Skopje (17–18 March 2026), with expert trainers from ODRAZ (CIVINET Slovenia–Croatia–SEE), as well as the Clean Bus Platform study visit to Île-de-France Mobilités in Paris on 22 April 2026, organized by the Transport Community.
This initiative is implemented under the Green Agenda: Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkans (WB Adapt), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, in cooperation with the Transport Community, NALAS, and CIVINET Slovenia–Croatia–SEE
