In November 2024, EcoZ, together with the NGOs Pishtarët, GAIA Kosovo, and Riverwatch, submitted a complaint to the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna/Austria against Kosovo with regard to the hydropower plants in Sharr National Park. 

The Rzav will remain free! © Majda Slamova

Thanks to the determination of local citizens the Government of the Republic of Srpska officially terminated concession contracts for two hydropower plants on the Black and White Rzav Rivers. This follows years of protests that successfully stopped the construction of seven small hydropower plants, ensuring the river’s protection.

Over 100 participants unite at the Balkan Rivers Summit 2024 in Podgorica © Solutions4You

Under the banner “Uniting Voices for the Blue Heart of Europe” this year’s Balkan River Summit brought together over 100 international river conservation experts, scientists and activists in Podgorica, Montenegro. The event aimed at uniting river defenders to protect the valuable Balkan rivers and to speak out against the imminent and systematic threat the rivers are facing.

Destruction at the river Sutjeska © Vladimir Topić

New threats to the Sutjeska and Jabušnica rivers are emerging, as construction of a new hydropower plant threatens the ecosystem of Sutjeska National Park. Concerns over outdated permits and environmental impacts have sparked protests urging authorities to halt these destructive activities. Join the fight!

Do you have a story to tell or experiences to share? Pitch your fight for river protection and present at the Balkan River Summit 2024! Find all the information about different contribution formats, key themes, and contact details in the post.

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