UNESCO'S STRATEGY FOR 2023-2028 FOR PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE IN LIGHT OF THE “ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE” PROCESS

This article examines UNESCO’s 2023–2028 strategic framework in light of the Environment for Europe (EfE) process, assessing its potential to promote sustainable development in Southeast Europe (SEE). Based on a qualitative and interdisciplinary methodology, the study combines documentary and normative analysis of UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy (2022–2029) and the ESD-2030 Framework, comparative review of EfE outcomes—particularly the Nicosia Ministerial Declaration of 2022—and thematic analysis of literature addressing governance, mobility, and social inclusion in SEE. The results demonstrate significant convergence between UNESCO’s global priorities and EfE’s regional commitments, highlighting the centrality of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-2030) as both a normative and practical instrument for systemic transformation. Furthermore, the analysis reveals how EfE and UNESCO’s strategic orientations can complement each other, offering opportunities to enhance regional policy coherence and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. At the same time, the study identifies persistent barriers, such as weak governance structures, brain drain, feminization of migration, and socio-economic inequalities, which continue to challenge sustainable development pathways in SEE. By bridging UNESCO’s integrative mandate with EfE’s intergovernmental platform, this article contributes to the debate on how international organizations and regional frameworks can jointly foster inclusive, resilient, and context-sensitive sustainability transitions in Southeast Europe.