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Columnists: Nigel Jollands & Violeta Kogalniceanu,
Published on: 15 Apr 2016
Developing energy efficiency policy in the Western Balkans – lessons from ground
Jasmina is no stranger to the trials and tribulations associated with energy efficiency policy development. As Head of the Energy Efficiency Department she is on the front line of energy efficiency policy development in her country every day. Her and her small team of people are constantly having to balance their limited resources and work within a Ministry with many competing demands beyond energy efficiency.
But despite the challenges, several countries in the Western Balkans are making some progress. For example, the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia recently published a Rulebook on Public Procurement in the Official Gazette of RS on 29.12.2015. This Rulebook requires government agencies to consider energy efficiency in the procurement of office IT equipment, refrigerators and freezers, air conditioners and lighting (internal and external).While this may seem like a small step forward, when seen in the context that government purchases can account for up to 16% of GDP in this region, these rulebooks can make a big impact.
Serbia and other Western Balkans countries are making progress in other areas. There are on-going efforts to transpose the EPBD and Albania is preparing its much overdue updated National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP).
The progress that is being made on energy efficiency in the Western Balkans is due to five factors. First, the EU accession process provides the much needed political stimulus needed to focus the minds of decision makers in these countries. Without this process, and the promise of pre-accession (IPA) resources, there would certainly be a tendency to divert attention to more pressing issues on the political agenda.
Second, the Balkan countries committed themselves to implement the EU Acquis, and the energy efficiency Directives specifically, provide a workable template for countries to follow. They provide a comprehensive framework and road map that countries can follow in their efforts to develop their energy efficiency policies.
However, these template Directives are complex and require a significant amount of technical input. The third element in delivering helping to deliver energy efficiency policy success in the Western Balkans is the EU-established Energy Community Treaty and its Secretariat. The Treaty requires the Contracting Parties to transpose EU energy efficiency Directives (the EED, the EPBD and the Labelling Directive and regulations) according to an agreed timeframe (usually delayed compared to EU member states). In addition, the Energy Community Secretariat (ECS) provides the essential technical oversight and encouragement to WB policy makers. And, where necessary, the Energy Community Secretariat can call countries to account through an infringement process under the Energy Community Treaty.
The fourth element contributing to progress is the technical assistance offered by donors. For example, the EBRD and the ECS are cooperating on ‘REEP’ – the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme – funded by the EU, EBRD and SIDA. The REEP has provided the following assistance:
- For EPBD transposition, REEP has delivered draft primary laws to Kosovo and Albania; regulations on inspections to Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia and Kosovo; minimum energy performance requirements to FYROM and Kosovo; energy performance certification to FYROM and Kosovo; national calculation methodology to FYROM, Kosovo and Bosnia I Herzegovina Federation (BiH-F); national calculation software to FYROM, Kosovo and BiH-F
- On energy efficiency procurement, REEP has delivered draft procurement rulebooks to Serbia and Montenegro;
- Supporting the development of energy efficiency obligations, REEP has delivered draft amendments to primary laws and regulations to Montenegro and Croatia;
- A draft NEEAP for Albania.
Finally, as many eceee readers know, establishing the energy efficiency policy framework comes down to the commitment and hard work of the politicians and government officials on the ground. As much as technical assistance and donors’ funding is helping, scaling up energy efficiency requires significant political will and support at the highest level in the countries. Energy Efficiency needs champions in the “big league”. It also needs the dedication and perseverance of people like Jasmina. Tomorrow she’ll be back at her desk on the frontline as usual.
