‘Taking Action on Energy Transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina’ conference gathered today representatives of the authorities, experts from the public and private sectors, as well as international representatives and representatives of civil society who will consider how 2023 can be a year of action in the direction of energy transition following the European Green Agenda for the countries of the Western Balkans.
President of the Green Club and MP in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament Saša Magazinović said at the opening of the conference that decision-makers in BiH should not be afraid of unfamiliar concepts such as decarbonization, just transition, Sofia Declaration, green agenda, and energy transition.
BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac pointed out that in terms of decarbonization of the energy sector, our most important activity is the preparation of the Integrated Energy and Climate Plan of BiH for the period up to 2030.
“In that document, we defined goals for 2030 for increasing energy efficiency measures, increasing the share of renewable energy sources, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This plan will enable BiH to integrate energy and climate goals, as well as policies and measures, helping to harmonize energy policies with the EU,” stated Košarac.
UNDP Resident Representative in BiH, Steliana Nedera, emphasized that there is already a solid foundation in terms of plans at the municipal level and the model by which the private sector has accepted energy efficiency in cooperation with the authorities and civil society.
She added that it is possible to replicate these models and called for an accelerated energy transition.
Ambassador of Sweden to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Johanna Strömquist, reminded that Bosnia and Herzegovina has received the candidate status for EU membership and that energy efficiency is one of the priorities that must be fulfilled on that path.
Head of the EU Delegation and the EU’s Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Johann Sattler, said that the EU stands by Bosnia and Herzegovina when it comes to the energy transition, as evidenced by the new investments in energy, which he expects to be implemented soon.
The conference will be an opportunity to discuss how to accelerate and increase action towards a future in which cleaner energy sources will be used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including through the recently announced EU Energy Support Package.
