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TERMS OF REFERENCE
Development of a study:
The Convergence of Digitalisation and Environmental Sustainability
(How to ensure environmentally sustainable digital revolution of the Western Balkans)
I BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to perform an analysis of the situation in the Western
Balkans (WB) economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*,1Montenegro,
Republic of North Macedonia and Serbia) and develop a study on digitalisation and
sustainability convergence. The Study should offer an overview of the present situation related to these two areas in terms of policy development and, besides many potentials,
opportunities and positive effects digital technologies bring and contribute to sustainable
development, and also identify and describe key challenges and negative impacts that
ubiquitous digitalisation has on the environment. The Study should also provide
recommendations on necessary future steps to minimise side effects and negative
consequences digital transformation may produce on the environment, as well as on how to
enhance, multiply and further develop the defined positive effects. Recommendations should
focus on how to make digital revolution environmentally sustainable, taking into account key
potential negative effects of transformation and automation of industrial processes, hyper
production of digital equipment, transformation of goods into devices, development of multilayer communication networks for various devices (IoT) and cars, changing of WB citizens’
behaviour, shortening of life-cycle of products and devices, as well as many other effects
which will affect the environment, energy consumption, depletion of natural resources,
generation of waste, human health, biodiversity and potentially hinder global fight against
climate change.
Nowadays, digitalisation is the buzzword and one of the most important policy areas for the
EU with huge potential to transform society and spur economic activities and development.
The same is valid for the Western Balkans region which is implementing the same standards
and, in the process of EU accession, developing policy and legal framework based on the
same vision, targets and the EU digital acquis. Digital technologies offer incredible
opportunities, transform the way we work, learn, communicate, and the way we perform our
everyday tasks. Digital technologies also transform our industry, production processes,
enable new products to be developed and placed on the global market (sometimes even
instantly) and generate demand for various goods and services which was unimaginable a
decade ago. We have entered a new era of human civilisation development, so-called
Industry 4.0, referring to the new industry revolution based on ICT which is happening, and
which is going to dramatically change our future in myriad positive ways. Similar to the
discovery of steam engine, electricity production and transmission, electric motors, hydraulic
systems, and many other inventions, digital transformation is altering human lives
revolutionarily and changing our role in various processes, enabling tremendous savings of
our time and energy for performing activities which are part of our daily routines and work
procedures.
However, we have to bear in mind the negative and side effects all these stunning innovations
and technologies unintentionally produced in the past, impacting the environment, climate,
biodiversity and human health. Electricity production which is still heavily based on fossil
fuels (dominantly coal) combined with the transport sector which is 95% dependent on oil
products are two most polluting branches of economy. Industry production which exploded
due to technological innovations and automation of processes during previous industrial
revolutions also contributed gravely to pollution of river flows globally, contamination of air,
accelerated global warming and loss of ozone layer. Therefore, environmental protection,
mitigation of climate change, prevention of biodiversity loss, protection of human health and
fight for carbon neutrality became part of the most urgent human mission and hence some of
the key priorities of policy in force. This mission requires a prompt global action which will
necessitate huge efforts, financial resources as well as persistence in the fight to slow down
negative trends, abandon existing dirty technologies and recover what is damaged in the
previous century.
Consequently, the purpose of this Study is to analyse the key aspects of digital revolution in
Western Balkans and provide an overview of the main trends and opportunities it brings, but
more importantly to provide recommendations on how to avoid negative consequences
digitalisation may cause in the region (increased electromagnetic radiation, increased
generation of waste and e-waste, energy consumption growth, related rise of carbon
emissions, noise, social and health consequences, etc.). Also, the purpose of this assignment
is to present the findings and recommendations to the Regional Working Group on
Environment2
in order to facilitate cross-sectoral cooperation and support mainstreaming of
environmental policy in other relevant and connected sectors of economy. By providing
recommendations, the study should support well-informed decision-making and serve for
defining future work and regional initiatives of the RWG Env, but also for rising awareness
of WB citizens.
This study should provide some recommendations, answers and elaborate on how to improve
convergence between digital transformation and environmental sustainability. For example:
- Can we make digital revolution environmentally sustainable in the Western Balkans?
- How increased consumption influence environmental degradation?
- Can information communication technologies serve as one of the most important
means to improve the status of environment?
- Does digital revolution generate new demand for materials and energy that will
further deteriorate our fragile environment?
- Is the internet economy a double-edged sword?
- Is economic activity, irrespectively of whether it is mostly digitalised or not,
essentially an entropic process that unidirectionally depletes limited materials and
energy as long as this economic activity is performed?
- How to avoid the great trap in assessing effects of digital technologies expecting that
they will spur economic development, generate new jobs and bring many other
benefits, while not taking into account numerous negative consequences that
unplanned and elemental digitalisation may cause?
Background information
General overview and background
According to the IPCC report3
, the human induced global warming has already reached 1℃
above pre-industrial level, and is increasing at approximately 0.2℃ per decade. Also,
following other documents the last two decades included 18 of the warmest years on record.
Hence protection of environment and fight to curb climate change, decreasing greenhouse
gases emissions, are becoming the most important objectives of modern society. Transition
towards a net-zero greenhouse gas economy is possible. However, it requires further scalingup of technological innovations in energy, buildings, transport, industry and agricultural
sector. It can be accelerated by breakthroughs in digitalisation, information and
communication technologies (ICT), artificial intelligence and biotechnology. On one hand,
digitalisation is a powerful tool to support decarbonisation through automation of everyday
and industrial processes, use of e-services and eliminating needs for paper documents, use of
machines and artificial intelligence to compensate human work, and in many other ways. But
on the other hand, digitalisation can produce some negative consequences on human society and the environment. For example, according to Gartner advisory firm (August 2019), global
smartphone sales in the second quarter of 2019 reached 368 million units (still less than 374
million units in 2018). Although this trend has a huge economic and social impact
contributing to consumers’ satisfaction, we cannot neglect other effects, such as for example
that in maximum two-year period all these phones will become waste; and even more, ewaste, consisted of some dangerous materials which have to be properly treated, possibly
reduced, reused, recycled, or disposed following certain requirements and standards (which is
not the practice in many cases, particularly in our region). Here, we are still not talking about
packaging and transportation (in terms of needed energy), printed manuals and other
necessary elements of supply chain on the way from factories to final customers.
Another example is the decision of the Belgian Government from April 2019 to suspend 5G
Plan for Brussels due to concerns about electromagnetic radiation base stations and networks
infrastructure may produce.
Taking all these into account, one of big challenges and conundrums we will have to address
will be how to decouple digitalisation from degradation of the environment. How to
maximise deployment of digital technologies in a way to contribute to green development,
which are used to protect the environment and monitor its status with less negative impact.
There is a huge potential in use of digital technologies in reaching net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions neutrality by 2050 according to the EC, but this requires maximising the potential
of technology development and innovation and following the circular economy principles.
RCC work in the area of environment
In 2015, as part of its regional initiative, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
established a Regional Working Group4
of high-level representatives from WB ministries
responsible for environment, water resources and climate change (hereinafter referred to as
“Regional Working Group on Environment” or “RWG Env”) to guide the implementation of
the Dimension Environment of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy. The RWG Env
operates under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat with the main
responsibility for programming, overseeing and monitoring the activities within the
Dimension Environment.
RWG Env as a regional body for coordination of relevant environmental initiatives meets
twice per year. One of these meetings is at operational level, while the other one is organised
at Ministerial level. The Skopje Ministerial Declaration,5
adopted at the occasion of the last
Ministerial meeting in November 2018, promotes a quick transition to green and circular
economy making best use of the benefits and opportunities it offers. The Declaration also
calls for resource efficiency, climate neutrality as well as sustainable low emission
development for WB.
Digitalisation is an important tool which may contribute to this goal, but effects of
digitalisation can go in two opposite directions. Therefore, with the intention to support the
work of RWG Env, RCC intends to launch this study and investigate opportunities and
challenges.
Paris Agreement on Climate Change
The WB economies (with the exception of Kosovo*6
), among 194 states and the EU7
, have
signed the Paris Climate Agreement and submitted their commitments under the UNFCCC
containing National Determined Contributions for CO2 emissions savings by 2030. On 4th
November 2016 the historic legally binding agreement on keeping the global temperature rise
well below 2°C entered into force. Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed on enhancing the implementation of the Convention,
including its objective, and strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change,
in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.
The EU activities and situation in WB-environment
The EU response to climate and energy concerns is elaborated in the 2030 climate and energy
framework and ambitions are translated into the three key targets: i) at least 40% cuts in GHG
emissions; ii) reaching at least 32% share of energy from renewable sources; and iii)
improving energy efficiency to at least 32.5% by the end of the next decade. The entire policy
framework, which is defined by 8 important and already adopted legal acts, should help
achieve the progress towards a low-carbon economy and carbon neutrality by 2050 as set as
indicative goal of the EU. WB economies are in the process of transposition of these 8
legislative acts and defining their own 2030 energy and climate targets, mainly through the
support and guidance provided by the Energy Community Secretariat. Presently, the WB
economies are still making efforts to achieve their 2020 targets defined at the beginning of
this decade and articulated in main energy and environment strategic policy documents and
laws.
Considering the observed evidences on changing environmental conditions, their impact on
economic development in different sectors, it is obvious that Western Balkans is a region
highly endangered by direct and indirect climate change. Future scenarios of change of
climate and environmental response show continuation or even exacerbation of existing
trends. Thus, the entire Western Balkans needs immediate attention and swift development of
strategies to reduce risks, mitigate climate change, and improve adaptive capacities for
inevitable climate events that will occur in the future.
In May 2018 RCC published a Study on Climate Change in Western Balkans8 which
analysed two possible scenarios of changes of climate by the end of 21st century. The Study
showed that the region is highly vulnerable to climate change and will experience significant
rise of mean annual temperatures (up to 5°C) causing negative impacts on various sectors of
economy and human health as well as huge financial losses related to preventive and
corrective measures, suspension of work and industry activities, deadlocks in traffic, absence
from work, medical treatments, etc.
In November 2018 the European Commission published A European strategic long-term
vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy - Clean Planet for
all9
. This strategic document analyses several mechanisms which can contribute as well as
possibilities to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The document identified energy efficiency,
renewable energy, clean and connected mobility, circular economy, smart network
infrastructure, carbon capture and storage and recognise digital technology as an instrument which can play an important role in EU’s effort to curb carbon footprint. Digital
transformation enables development of many new technologies and equipment and pervades
all these mechanisms as recognised in this document. However, it also brings new products
which will become waste at the end of their life and may cause other negative effects during
the period of use.
In addition to this important strategic EU document, with the aim to put spotlight on
environmental issues in the WB, facilitate process of transition towards low-carbon circular
economy and bring benefits to the well-being through strengthened regional cooperation, the
Commission will support the region's efforts to develop a Green Agenda for the Western
Balkans in the upcoming months. This initiative will be an important attempt to provide an
adequate and on-time response of WB to all existing environmental challenges, and where
RCC and RWG Env will have a certain role to play. Therefore, findings and
recommendations of this Study will be also used in the future to support development of this
important regional strategic vision.
The EU activities and situation in WB-digital
In terms of the accession process, the Western Balkans is progressing well on its way in
transposing EU aquis in the area of digital and developing necessary infrastructure and
services which will enable reaping benefits digitalisation brings. RCC is also deeply involved
in this processes and in cooperation with the EC (primarily DG CONNECT) and other
partners provide significant support to WB through hands-on work with the WB
governments, participation in policy dialogue and various concrete activities, nurturing
regional ownership and cooperation.
In 2017, based on the Declaration of the Italian Chair of the Trieste Summit10 under the
Berlin Process11 initiative, RCC launched Western Balkans Digital Summit12 (WB DS) as a
unique and permanent regional policy dialogue on digital transformation of the region which
culminates each year in a form of a two-day high-level event bringing several hundreds of
participants from WB and EU governments, experts, decision makers, academia, business
community, start-ups, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to discuss opportunities
and challenges digital transformation brings and trace the way of future regional digital
transformation and development.
Skopje (2018) and Belgrade (2019) where the hosts of the Western Balkans Digital Summit,
while the next one will be organised in Tirana (2020).
In June 2018, with an effort to support the transition of the region into a digital economy and
bring the benefits of digital transformation, the European Commission developed the Digital
Agenda for the Western Balkans13 (DAWB), which was endorsed by the WB leaders at the
occasion of Digital Assembly, held in June 2018 in Sofia. The DAWB focuses on several
areas which include improving digital connectivity, lowering roaming charges, improving
cybersecurity and trust in digital services, increasing skills to develop and use digital services
and technologies, supporting a quick transformation of society and developing WB digital
economy.
Development of a study:
The Convergence of Digitalisation and Environmental Sustainability
(How to ensure environmentally sustainable digital revolution of the Western Balkans)
I BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to perform an analysis of the situation in the Western
Balkans (WB) economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*,1Montenegro,
Republic of North Macedonia and Serbia) and develop a study on digitalisation and
sustainability convergence. The Study should offer an overview of the present situation related to these two areas in terms of policy development and, besides many potentials,
opportunities and positive effects digital technologies bring and contribute to sustainable
development, and also identify and describe key challenges and negative impacts that
ubiquitous digitalisation has on the environment. The Study should also provide
recommendations on necessary future steps to minimise side effects and negative
consequences digital transformation may produce on the environment, as well as on how to
enhance, multiply and further develop the defined positive effects. Recommendations should
focus on how to make digital revolution environmentally sustainable, taking into account key
potential negative effects of transformation and automation of industrial processes, hyper
production of digital equipment, transformation of goods into devices, development of multilayer communication networks for various devices (IoT) and cars, changing of WB citizens’
behaviour, shortening of life-cycle of products and devices, as well as many other effects
which will affect the environment, energy consumption, depletion of natural resources,
generation of waste, human health, biodiversity and potentially hinder global fight against
climate change.
Nowadays, digitalisation is the buzzword and one of the most important policy areas for the
EU with huge potential to transform society and spur economic activities and development.
The same is valid for the Western Balkans region which is implementing the same standards
and, in the process of EU accession, developing policy and legal framework based on the
same vision, targets and the EU digital acquis. Digital technologies offer incredible
opportunities, transform the way we work, learn, communicate, and the way we perform our
everyday tasks. Digital technologies also transform our industry, production processes,
enable new products to be developed and placed on the global market (sometimes even
instantly) and generate demand for various goods and services which was unimaginable a
decade ago. We have entered a new era of human civilisation development, so-called
Industry 4.0, referring to the new industry revolution based on ICT which is happening, and
which is going to dramatically change our future in myriad positive ways. Similar to the
discovery of steam engine, electricity production and transmission, electric motors, hydraulic
systems, and many other inventions, digital transformation is altering human lives
revolutionarily and changing our role in various processes, enabling tremendous savings of
our time and energy for performing activities which are part of our daily routines and work
procedures.
However, we have to bear in mind the negative and side effects all these stunning innovations
and technologies unintentionally produced in the past, impacting the environment, climate,
biodiversity and human health. Electricity production which is still heavily based on fossil
fuels (dominantly coal) combined with the transport sector which is 95% dependent on oil
products are two most polluting branches of economy. Industry production which exploded
due to technological innovations and automation of processes during previous industrial
revolutions also contributed gravely to pollution of river flows globally, contamination of air,
accelerated global warming and loss of ozone layer. Therefore, environmental protection,
mitigation of climate change, prevention of biodiversity loss, protection of human health and
fight for carbon neutrality became part of the most urgent human mission and hence some of
the key priorities of policy in force. This mission requires a prompt global action which will
necessitate huge efforts, financial resources as well as persistence in the fight to slow down
negative trends, abandon existing dirty technologies and recover what is damaged in the
previous century.
Consequently, the purpose of this Study is to analyse the key aspects of digital revolution in
Western Balkans and provide an overview of the main trends and opportunities it brings, but
more importantly to provide recommendations on how to avoid negative consequences
digitalisation may cause in the region (increased electromagnetic radiation, increased
generation of waste and e-waste, energy consumption growth, related rise of carbon
emissions, noise, social and health consequences, etc.). Also, the purpose of this assignment
is to present the findings and recommendations to the Regional Working Group on
Environment2
in order to facilitate cross-sectoral cooperation and support mainstreaming of
environmental policy in other relevant and connected sectors of economy. By providing
recommendations, the study should support well-informed decision-making and serve for
defining future work and regional initiatives of the RWG Env, but also for rising awareness
of WB citizens.
This study should provide some recommendations, answers and elaborate on how to improve
convergence between digital transformation and environmental sustainability. For example:
- Can we make digital revolution environmentally sustainable in the Western Balkans?
- How increased consumption influence environmental degradation?
- Can information communication technologies serve as one of the most important
means to improve the status of environment?
- Does digital revolution generate new demand for materials and energy that will
further deteriorate our fragile environment?
- Is the internet economy a double-edged sword?
- Is economic activity, irrespectively of whether it is mostly digitalised or not,
essentially an entropic process that unidirectionally depletes limited materials and
energy as long as this economic activity is performed?
- How to avoid the great trap in assessing effects of digital technologies expecting that
they will spur economic development, generate new jobs and bring many other
benefits, while not taking into account numerous negative consequences that
unplanned and elemental digitalisation may cause?
Background information
General overview and background
According to the IPCC report3
, the human induced global warming has already reached 1℃
above pre-industrial level, and is increasing at approximately 0.2℃ per decade. Also,
following other documents the last two decades included 18 of the warmest years on record.
Hence protection of environment and fight to curb climate change, decreasing greenhouse
gases emissions, are becoming the most important objectives of modern society. Transition
towards a net-zero greenhouse gas economy is possible. However, it requires further scalingup of technological innovations in energy, buildings, transport, industry and agricultural
sector. It can be accelerated by breakthroughs in digitalisation, information and
communication technologies (ICT), artificial intelligence and biotechnology. On one hand,
digitalisation is a powerful tool to support decarbonisation through automation of everyday
and industrial processes, use of e-services and eliminating needs for paper documents, use of
machines and artificial intelligence to compensate human work, and in many other ways. But
on the other hand, digitalisation can produce some negative consequences on human society and the environment. For example, according to Gartner advisory firm (August 2019), global
smartphone sales in the second quarter of 2019 reached 368 million units (still less than 374
million units in 2018). Although this trend has a huge economic and social impact
contributing to consumers’ satisfaction, we cannot neglect other effects, such as for example
that in maximum two-year period all these phones will become waste; and even more, ewaste, consisted of some dangerous materials which have to be properly treated, possibly
reduced, reused, recycled, or disposed following certain requirements and standards (which is
not the practice in many cases, particularly in our region). Here, we are still not talking about
packaging and transportation (in terms of needed energy), printed manuals and other
necessary elements of supply chain on the way from factories to final customers.
Another example is the decision of the Belgian Government from April 2019 to suspend 5G
Plan for Brussels due to concerns about electromagnetic radiation base stations and networks
infrastructure may produce.
Taking all these into account, one of big challenges and conundrums we will have to address
will be how to decouple digitalisation from degradation of the environment. How to
maximise deployment of digital technologies in a way to contribute to green development,
which are used to protect the environment and monitor its status with less negative impact.
There is a huge potential in use of digital technologies in reaching net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions neutrality by 2050 according to the EC, but this requires maximising the potential
of technology development and innovation and following the circular economy principles.
RCC work in the area of environment
In 2015, as part of its regional initiative, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
established a Regional Working Group4
of high-level representatives from WB ministries
responsible for environment, water resources and climate change (hereinafter referred to as
“Regional Working Group on Environment” or “RWG Env”) to guide the implementation of
the Dimension Environment of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy. The RWG Env
operates under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat with the main
responsibility for programming, overseeing and monitoring the activities within the
Dimension Environment.
RWG Env as a regional body for coordination of relevant environmental initiatives meets
twice per year. One of these meetings is at operational level, while the other one is organised
at Ministerial level. The Skopje Ministerial Declaration,5
adopted at the occasion of the last
Ministerial meeting in November 2018, promotes a quick transition to green and circular
economy making best use of the benefits and opportunities it offers. The Declaration also
calls for resource efficiency, climate neutrality as well as sustainable low emission
development for WB.
Digitalisation is an important tool which may contribute to this goal, but effects of
digitalisation can go in two opposite directions. Therefore, with the intention to support the
work of RWG Env, RCC intends to launch this study and investigate opportunities and
challenges.
Paris Agreement on Climate Change
The WB economies (with the exception of Kosovo*6
), among 194 states and the EU7
, have
signed the Paris Climate Agreement and submitted their commitments under the UNFCCC
containing National Determined Contributions for CO2 emissions savings by 2030. On 4th
November 2016 the historic legally binding agreement on keeping the global temperature rise
well below 2°C entered into force. Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed on enhancing the implementation of the Convention,
including its objective, and strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change,
in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.
The EU activities and situation in WB-environment
The EU response to climate and energy concerns is elaborated in the 2030 climate and energy
framework and ambitions are translated into the three key targets: i) at least 40% cuts in GHG
emissions; ii) reaching at least 32% share of energy from renewable sources; and iii)
improving energy efficiency to at least 32.5% by the end of the next decade. The entire policy
framework, which is defined by 8 important and already adopted legal acts, should help
achieve the progress towards a low-carbon economy and carbon neutrality by 2050 as set as
indicative goal of the EU. WB economies are in the process of transposition of these 8
legislative acts and defining their own 2030 energy and climate targets, mainly through the
support and guidance provided by the Energy Community Secretariat. Presently, the WB
economies are still making efforts to achieve their 2020 targets defined at the beginning of
this decade and articulated in main energy and environment strategic policy documents and
laws.
Considering the observed evidences on changing environmental conditions, their impact on
economic development in different sectors, it is obvious that Western Balkans is a region
highly endangered by direct and indirect climate change. Future scenarios of change of
climate and environmental response show continuation or even exacerbation of existing
trends. Thus, the entire Western Balkans needs immediate attention and swift development of
strategies to reduce risks, mitigate climate change, and improve adaptive capacities for
inevitable climate events that will occur in the future.
In May 2018 RCC published a Study on Climate Change in Western Balkans8 which
analysed two possible scenarios of changes of climate by the end of 21st century. The Study
showed that the region is highly vulnerable to climate change and will experience significant
rise of mean annual temperatures (up to 5°C) causing negative impacts on various sectors of
economy and human health as well as huge financial losses related to preventive and
corrective measures, suspension of work and industry activities, deadlocks in traffic, absence
from work, medical treatments, etc.
In November 2018 the European Commission published A European strategic long-term
vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy - Clean Planet for
all9
. This strategic document analyses several mechanisms which can contribute as well as
possibilities to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The document identified energy efficiency,
renewable energy, clean and connected mobility, circular economy, smart network
infrastructure, carbon capture and storage and recognise digital technology as an instrument which can play an important role in EU’s effort to curb carbon footprint. Digital
transformation enables development of many new technologies and equipment and pervades
all these mechanisms as recognised in this document. However, it also brings new products
which will become waste at the end of their life and may cause other negative effects during
the period of use.
In addition to this important strategic EU document, with the aim to put spotlight on
environmental issues in the WB, facilitate process of transition towards low-carbon circular
economy and bring benefits to the well-being through strengthened regional cooperation, the
Commission will support the region's efforts to develop a Green Agenda for the Western
Balkans in the upcoming months. This initiative will be an important attempt to provide an
adequate and on-time response of WB to all existing environmental challenges, and where
RCC and RWG Env will have a certain role to play. Therefore, findings and
recommendations of this Study will be also used in the future to support development of this
important regional strategic vision.
The EU activities and situation in WB-digital
In terms of the accession process, the Western Balkans is progressing well on its way in
transposing EU aquis in the area of digital and developing necessary infrastructure and
services which will enable reaping benefits digitalisation brings. RCC is also deeply involved
in this processes and in cooperation with the EC (primarily DG CONNECT) and other
partners provide significant support to WB through hands-on work with the WB
governments, participation in policy dialogue and various concrete activities, nurturing
regional ownership and cooperation.
In 2017, based on the Declaration of the Italian Chair of the Trieste Summit10 under the
Berlin Process11 initiative, RCC launched Western Balkans Digital Summit12 (WB DS) as a
unique and permanent regional policy dialogue on digital transformation of the region which
culminates each year in a form of a two-day high-level event bringing several hundreds of
participants from WB and EU governments, experts, decision makers, academia, business
community, start-ups, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to discuss opportunities
and challenges digital transformation brings and trace the way of future regional digital
transformation and development.
Skopje (2018) and Belgrade (2019) where the hosts of the Western Balkans Digital Summit,
while the next one will be organised in Tirana (2020).
In June 2018, with an effort to support the transition of the region into a digital economy and
bring the benefits of digital transformation, the European Commission developed the Digital
Agenda for the Western Balkans13 (DAWB), which was endorsed by the WB leaders at the
occasion of Digital Assembly, held in June 2018 in Sofia. The DAWB focuses on several
areas which include improving digital connectivity, lowering roaming charges, improving
cybersecurity and trust in digital services, increasing skills to develop and use digital services
and technologies, supporting a quick transformation of society and developing WB digital
economy.
Vrsta posla:
rad na određeno vrijeme
Regija:
O zaposleniku
Znanja i kvalifikacije:
PROFILE AND COMPETENCIES
The team of experts should have and prove ample knowledge and experience in the fields of
digital and environmental protection policies and technologies as well as good analytical
skills. The team of experts should also possess a good overview of the situation in these areas
in the WB region, experience in data collection, development of various scenarios and
indicators as well as in drafting high quality reports. The team of experts should be consisted
of one Team Leader and at least one team member, which all have to fulfil the following
qualification requirements:
Qualifications: Team Leader
Education:
Advanced university degree in environmental sciences, engineering,
biology, health, and other relevant fields necessary to understand main
trends, challenges and possible interactions between the areas of
environmental protection and digitalisation, or a university degree with
minimum 15 years of relevant working experience.
Experience:
Qualifications and Skills Required
Extensive theoretical knowledge in the relevant fields and minimum 7
years of practical working and/or research experience in environmental
protection, environmental management, engineering, biology, human
health, technical sciences, including development of scientific papers,
defining various scenarios and modelling;
Ample understanding of the existing strategic and policy frameworks in
the areas of environment and digital transformation, both in the EU and
WB;
Experience with project implementation, planning and analysis,
resource mobilisation and project management;
Proven understanding of the situation in relevant areas in Western
Balkans;
Analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and
clearly;
Experience in performing analytical studies, working with indicators,
and drafting recommendations for policy makers.
Language
requirements:
Fluency in English, as the official working language of RCC.
Knowledge of local languages in WB will be considered an asset.
Other:
Full ICT literacy and familiarity with MS Office (or alternative business
applications), as a tool necessary for implementation of the assignment.
Ability to be flexible and respond to changes as part of the review and
feedback process.
Qualifications: Team Member(s)
Education:
University degree in environmental sciences, engineering, biology,
technical science, law, and other relevant fields necessary to understand
main trends, challenges and possible interactions between the areas of
environmental protection and digitalisation, including legal framework
and requirements.
Postgraduate diplomas in related areas will be considered an asset.
Experience:
Qualifications and Skills Required
Extensive theoretical knowledge in the relevant fields and minimum 5
years of practical working and/or research experience in environmental
protection, environmental management, engineering, biology, human
health, law, technical science, including development of scientific papers,
defining various scenarios and modelling;
Ample knowledge of the EU integration process and related challenges
particularly focusing on the area of environment and digital
transformation;
Experience in policy development processes associated with
environment and sustainable development issues;
Proven understanding of the situation in relevant areas in Western
Balkans;
Analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and
clearly;
Experience in performing analytical studies, working with indicators,
and drafting recommendations for policy makers.
Language
requirements:
Fluency in English, as the official working language of RCC.
Knowledge of local languages in WB will be considered an asset.
Other:
Full ICT literacy and familiarity with MS Office (or alternative business
applications), as a tool necessary for implementation of the assignment.
Ability to be flexible and respond to changes as part of the review and
feedback process.
The team of experts should have and prove ample knowledge and experience in the fields of
digital and environmental protection policies and technologies as well as good analytical
skills. The team of experts should also possess a good overview of the situation in these areas
in the WB region, experience in data collection, development of various scenarios and
indicators as well as in drafting high quality reports. The team of experts should be consisted
of one Team Leader and at least one team member, which all have to fulfil the following
qualification requirements:
Qualifications: Team Leader
Education:
Advanced university degree in environmental sciences, engineering,
biology, health, and other relevant fields necessary to understand main
trends, challenges and possible interactions between the areas of
environmental protection and digitalisation, or a university degree with
minimum 15 years of relevant working experience.
Experience:
Qualifications and Skills Required
Extensive theoretical knowledge in the relevant fields and minimum 7
years of practical working and/or research experience in environmental
protection, environmental management, engineering, biology, human
health, technical sciences, including development of scientific papers,
defining various scenarios and modelling;
Ample understanding of the existing strategic and policy frameworks in
the areas of environment and digital transformation, both in the EU and
WB;
Experience with project implementation, planning and analysis,
resource mobilisation and project management;
Proven understanding of the situation in relevant areas in Western
Balkans;
Analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and
clearly;
Experience in performing analytical studies, working with indicators,
and drafting recommendations for policy makers.
Language
requirements:
Fluency in English, as the official working language of RCC.
Knowledge of local languages in WB will be considered an asset.
Other:
Full ICT literacy and familiarity with MS Office (or alternative business
applications), as a tool necessary for implementation of the assignment.
Ability to be flexible and respond to changes as part of the review and
feedback process.
Qualifications: Team Member(s)
Education:
University degree in environmental sciences, engineering, biology,
technical science, law, and other relevant fields necessary to understand
main trends, challenges and possible interactions between the areas of
environmental protection and digitalisation, including legal framework
and requirements.
Postgraduate diplomas in related areas will be considered an asset.
Experience:
Qualifications and Skills Required
Extensive theoretical knowledge in the relevant fields and minimum 5
years of practical working and/or research experience in environmental
protection, environmental management, engineering, biology, human
health, law, technical science, including development of scientific papers,
defining various scenarios and modelling;
Ample knowledge of the EU integration process and related challenges
particularly focusing on the area of environment and digital
transformation;
Experience in policy development processes associated with
environment and sustainable development issues;
Proven understanding of the situation in relevant areas in Western
Balkans;
Analytical skills and ability to conceptualise and write concisely and
clearly;
Experience in performing analytical studies, working with indicators,
and drafting recommendations for policy makers.
Language
requirements:
Fluency in English, as the official working language of RCC.
Knowledge of local languages in WB will be considered an asset.
Other:
Full ICT literacy and familiarity with MS Office (or alternative business
applications), as a tool necessary for implementation of the assignment.
Ability to be flexible and respond to changes as part of the review and
feedback process.
Minimalna stručna sprema:
Fakultet
Strani jezik:
engleski
Poznavanje rada na računaru:
dobro
Potrebno radno iskustvo:
šest do deset godina
