Marjan Nikolov
Articles
Challenges and opportunities for a just green transition in North Macedonia
Europa XXI (2025) vol. 49, pp. 1 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.1
Abstract
In order to limit the increase of temperature to 1.5oC and below 2oC above pre-industrial levelsthe Western Balkan countries and the European Union, following the Paris Agreement, adopted the 2050decarbonization goal. The green transition approach in North Macedonia remains a top-down processand poses challenges on implementing a just transition that embeds place-based policies. The communicationamong central and local government levels and stakeholders remain vague, opening the researchquestion about the proper mix of just transition, participation, legislation adoption and the quality of policymaking and governance configuration that should be able to serve spatial and social justice to be ableto implement a place-based governance framework. We use targeted survey to assess the green transitionpolicy of the government of North Macedonia if it is just and if it respects the place-based approach.The results suggest that the place-based approach is weakly implemented, decisions remain centralizedand following the top-down logic undermining local participation. We recommend further, more detailedanalyses of the place-based transition and decentralization efficiency with focus on local government barriersto more just green transition.
Keywords: just transition, place-based approach, spatial/social justice, governance, Green Deal, climate change
[info@cea.org], Center for Economic Analyses Bul. Jane Sandanski 63/3; 1000 Skopje: North Macedonia
[info@cea.org.mk], Center for Economic Analyses Bul. Jane Sandanski 63/3; 1000 Skopje: North Macedonia
[info@cea.org.mk], Center for Economic Analyses Bul. Jane Sandanski 63/3; 1000 Skopje: North Macedonia
Citation
APA: Nikolov, M., Petrovska, A., & Mitevski, I. (2025). Challenges and opportunities for a just green transition in North Macedonia. Europa XXI, 49, 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.1
MLA: Nikolov, Marjan, et al. "Challenges and opportunities for a just green transition in North Macedonia". Europa XXI, vol. 49, 2025, pp. 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.1
Chicago: Nikolov, Marjan, Petrovska, Ana Marija, and Mitevski, Igor. "Challenges and opportunities for a just green transition in North Macedonia". Europa XXI 49 (2025): 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.1
Harvard: Nikolov, M., Petrovska, A., & Mitevski, I. 2025. "Challenges and opportunities for a just green transition in North Macedonia". Europa XXI, vol. 49, pp. 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.1
Just green transitions reshaping spatial planning frameworks. Evidence from the Western Balkans
Europa XXI (2025) vol. 49, pp. 39-67 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.10
Abstract
The Western Balkans faces unique challenges in pursuing of sustainable development, and to frame the actions put in place to face these challenges within the recent EU policy agenda is of ut termost importance. Aiming at shedding light on the matter, this contribution examines the role of the EU Just Green Transitions policy framework in reshaping spatial planning in the Western Balkans, a region marked by complex post-socialist legacies and geopolitical aspirations towards EU integration. Through a comparative analysis of Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia, this study examines how domestic spatial governance frameworks and planning systems have adapted their instruments, policies, and institutional structures in response to EU-driven discourses. The collected evidence shows that, while Just Green Tran sitions narratives are increasingly present in climate and energy strategies, their integration into spatial planning remains fragmented, constrained by limited multilevel coordination and institutional capacity; planning instruments continue to reflect outdated paradigms, and the inclusion of a place-based approach to spatial justice remains minimal. This highlights the need for clearer legal mandates and the introduc t ion of participatory mechanisms to ensure that spatial planning supports equitable and context-sensitive green transformations in the Western Balkans, while contributing to the broader European integration agenda.
Keywords: spatial governance, planning systems, Just Green Transitions, European Union, Europeanisation, Western Balkans
[giancarlo.cotella@polito.it], Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino 39 Viale Mattioli, 10125 Turin: Italy
[anila_gjika@co-plan.org], Co-PLAN, Institute for Habitat Development Polis University, Department of Urban Planning and Environment
[erblin.berisha@polito.it], Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino 39 Viale Mattioli, 10125 Turin: Italy
[info@cea.org], Center for Economic Analyses Bul. Jane Sandanski 63/3; 1000 Skopje: North Macedonia
[vpopovic.za@gmail.com], Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
[zora.zivanovic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Citation
APA: Cotella, G., Bejko, A., Berisha, E., Nikolov, M., Popović, V., & Živanović, Z. (2025). Just green transitions reshaping spatial planning frameworks. Evidence from the Western Balkans. Europa XXI, 49, 39-67. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.10
MLA: Cotella, Giancarlo, et al. "Just green transitions reshaping spatial planning frameworks. Evidence from the Western Balkans". Europa XXI, vol. 49, 2025, pp. 39-67. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.10
Chicago: Cotella, Giancarlo, Bejko, Anila, Berisha, Erblin, Nikolov, Marjan, Popović, Vladimir, and Živanović, Zora. "Just green transitions reshaping spatial planning frameworks. Evidence from the Western Balkans". Europa XXI 49 (2025): 39-67. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.10
Harvard: Cotella, G., Bejko, A., Berisha, E., Nikolov, M., Popović, V., & Živanović, Z. 2025. "Just green transitions reshaping spatial planning frameworks. Evidence from the Western Balkans". Europa XXI, vol. 49, pp. 39-67. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.10
Preface
Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region
Europa XXI (2025) vol. 49, pp. 5-19 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12
Abstract
Just Green Transitions (JGT) have become a central pillar of the European Union’s response to climate change, seeking to reconcile its environmental ambition with social and spatial justice. While extensively debated within Member States, less attention has been paid to how this policy paradigm unfolds in candidate and neighbouring countries. This editorial introduces a thematic issue that critically examines the translation of JGT principles into governance arrangements, instruments and practices in the Western Balkan Region, a particularly fertile context in which to explore opportunities, tensions and limits. It situates the thematic issue within broader debates on Europeanisation, spatial justice, and sustainability transitions, outlining the conceptual framework and key challenges shaping JGT in the region. It argues that understanding how green transitions are negotiated under conditions of structural disadvantage and political fragmentation is essential to assessing whether Europe’s green transition can also be just beyond the EU borders.
This issue and its contribution are framed in the research project European HORIZON – WIDERA 2021-ACCESS-02-01, Foster Research Excellence for Green Transition in the Western Balkans – GreenFORCE Twinning of the Western Balkans, grant number: 101059411.
Keywords: Just Green Transitions, European Union, Western Balkan Region, European Green Deal, Europeanisation
[giancarlo.cotella@polito.it], Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino 39 Viale Mattioli, 10125 Turin: Italy
[info@cea.org], Center for Economic Analyses Bul. Jane Sandanski 63/3; 1000 Skopje: North Macedonia
[merita_toska@universitetipolis.edu.al], Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development
[zora.zivanovic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Citation
APA: Cotella, G., Nikolov, M., Toska, M., & Živanović, Z. (2025). Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region. Europa XXI, 49, 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12
MLA: Cotella, Giancarlo, et al. "Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region". Europa XXI, vol. 49, 2025, pp. 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12
Chicago: Cotella, Giancarlo, Nikolov, Marjan, Toska, Merita, and Živanović, Zora. "Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region". Europa XXI 49 (2025): 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12
Harvard: Cotella, G., Nikolov, M., Toska, M., & Živanović, Z. 2025. "Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region". Europa XXI, vol. 49, pp. 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12