The conference Energy Future of Serbia was an opportunity to summarize the results achieved during the implementation of the Civil Society for Energy Transition project. In the presence of a large number of experts in the field of energy, representatives of state institutions, academic institutions, international organizations and institutions, the diplomatic corps, as well as local civil society organizations that participated in this project, two new publications were presented - Analysis of the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources and Analysis of the Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Use of Energy.

Earlier, the Analysis of the Law on Climate Change of the Republic of Serbia was presented, which provides an overview of the three years of implementation of this Law with a special focus on the obligations of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Government of the Republic of Serbia in terms of reporting in the field of climate policy.

The panelists emphasized the importance of the link between energy efficiency and energy poverty, the need to monitor savings, the importance of market surveillance and the contribution of energy efficiency to energy security and safety. It was emphasized that the Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Use of Energy is an improvement of the previous law, but that it is not fully implemented. They especially emphasized the importance of the social aspect and access to public calls and competitions, bearing in mind that they are currently not available to the most vulnerable groups of the population. They talked about the importance and different mechanisms of market regulation, such as eco design and energy labeling of products. Also, attention was drawn to the importance of informing citizens about energy saving options, as well as to the prominent role that energy cooperatives play in education and raising awareness about energy efficiency. It was concluded that the adoption of the law will not solve the key problems, but that it requires good public policy, proper direction of money, change in technology or change in behavior.

Within the panel on renewable energy choices, the panelists highlighted the fact that with the adoption of the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Serbia, for the first time, regulated the issue of the use of renewable energy sources with a special regulation. In this way, for the most part, the Directive on promoting the use of energy from renewable sources was transposed into our legislation, all within the process of harmonizing the normative framework with the legislation of the European Union. It was pointed out that the context in which the law was adopted represents a step in the right direction, because in this way the entire economic sector, not just the energy sector, is being redefined. It was also underlined that compliance with the Directive is at a satisfactory level, but that the pace of harmonization and adoption of by-laws must be faster, as well as that other laws that also directly affect this area must be amended. The panelists criticized the lack of strategic commitment and concrete strategic decisions that would be the basis for the implementation of the law. The author of the analysis highlighted as problematic the position of the strategic partner, during whose selection and implementation of the public invitation, the application of the existing legal framework, specifically the regulations regulating the public procurement procedure and the regulations regulating the public-private partnership, is suspended. Challenges are also reflected in the lack of information regarding buyer-producers, high costs for buyer-producers and the unpredictability of renewable energy sources. Therefore, in the end, the need for innovation and combining different options was underlined in order to find the appropriate pace in achieving the energy transition.

A major role in the project was played by local civil society organizations that dealt with various aspects of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and who, through their advocacy activities, provided a local perspective on energy and climate policy. The Belgrade Open School prepared a publication that gives an overview of the activities of local change initiators called Energy Transition - Building by Building.

In accordance with its goals, BOS will continue to support the democratization and decarbonization of the energy sector, with a focus on a just energy transition and a greater participation of renewable energy sources in the energy mix.

The Civil Society for Energy Transition project is financed by the British Embassy in Belgrade, and the Belgrade Open School implements the project in cooperation with the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI) and seven other local partners, in the period from December 1, 2022. until March 31, 2024.

You can view the photo gallery from the event here.

Author of the photos: Zorica Popovic