Action 36
Finalise the process of ratification of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and its protocols
ROADMAP PROGRESS
According to the 2025 GARI, five of the WB6 have ratified the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Kosovo* is the only one among the WB6 that has not ratified the Convention, owing to its status with regard to United Nations membership. Ratification of the associated protocols remains incomplete across the region, with several WB6 yet to accede to the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol (amended version) and the 1998 Protocols on Persistent Organic Pollutants and Heavy Metals. The status of protocol ratification as at 2026 is set out below.
Note: Action 36 of the first Green Agenda Action Plan (2021–2030) is not retained in the Revised Action Plan (2025–2030). Related objectives are reflected in Action 23, which focuses on aligning with EU air quality standards and on transposing the NEC Directive.
| Albania | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Kosovo* | Montenegro | North Macedonia | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone Entry into force: 17 May 2005; original protocol | ● | |||||
| Idem 2012 Amended version Entry into force: 7 October 2019; amended version | ||||||
| 1998 Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and its 2009 amended version Entry into force: 23 October 2003; original protocol and amended version, annexes I and II | ● | ● | ● | |||
| Idem 2009 Amended Version Entry into force: 20 January 2022; amended version, annexes I, II, III, IV, VI and VIII | ||||||
| 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals and its 2012 amended version Entry into force: 29 December 2003; original protocol | ● | ● | ||||
| Idem 2012 Amended version Entry into force: 8 February 2022; amended version | ||||||
| 1994 Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions Entry into force: 5 August 1998 | ● | |||||
| 1991 Protocol concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes Entry into force: 29 September 1997 | ● | |||||
| 1988 Protocol concerning the Control of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes Entry into force: 14 February 1991 | ● | ● | ||||
| 1985 Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30 per cent Entry into force: 2 September 1987 | ● | ● | ||||
| 1984 Protocol on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) Entry into force: 28 January 1988 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
UNECE, Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, Protocol Status (https://unece.org/protocols). Data reproduced in Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) (2025) Report on the Implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans Action Plan (GARI 2025), Table 17.