Skopje, 6 December 2021 (MIA) – The European Green Deal doesn’t only refer to the environment, it has to be applied in all areas, Steffen Hudolin, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, told a press briefing Monday. The green agenda in the Western Balkan countries, he said, includes decarbonisation – climate action, clean energy and smart transport, circular economy – sustainable production and consumption, natural capital – protection and restoration of ecosystems, depollution – air, water, monitoring of soil and prevention and sustainable food system, and rural areas – modern agroculture and food quality. According to Hudolin, the Green Deal aims at turning Europe into a climate neutral continent by 2050. Announcing that a Green Deal campaign is launching in the country, he said that in addition to the ambitious goal of Europe becoming climate neutral by 2050, efforts in parallel will be made as regards EU’s growth, prosperity and economic progress. The campaign, said the EU Delegation official, aims at informing the people in the country about the Green Deal and its benefits. The Green Deal is not an environmental project, it is something that should be implemented in all fields, said Hudolin. All the while reducing emissions, he said, we should also work on the economic goals since we cannot neglect the economic activities and focus only on green development. “We want to convey this message in all European countries.” Regarding the Green Deal’s implementation, Hudolin said all countries have achieved different level of implementation and that there can be no deadlines. Citing the European Commission report, he said that the country has been following the Sofia Declaration, pledged by the Western Balkan leaders. According to Hudolin, North Macedonia is part of Europe. “It is part of our family to meet these goals. The green agenda should be implemented in absolutely all sectors.”