On Thursday, 20th June, RES Foundation, in cooperation with German Energy Agency (dena), delivered a project workshop “Cross-Border Cooperation for Local Energy Transition in the Western Balkans” at Mona Plaza Hotel.
The energy transition presents a significant opportunity for the Western Balkans to achieve their strategic goals of EU integration, support economic growth, and tackle climate change. The Western Balkan countries have committed to this approach through various national strategic documents and plans. With the project ‘Interconnected Energy Transition in the Western Balkans’, the German Energy Agency (dena) supports the German government’s commitment to advancing the energy transition process in the region and finding the best solutions for an accelerated and just energy transition in line with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.
Our co-founders, Jasminka Young and Aleksandar Macura, facilitated the workshop, starting from the introductory presentations by municipalities to the interactive workshop activity “Co-creation of ‘project factsheets’ outlining key parameters of the proposed cross-border cooperation project ideas”. They also delivered their presentation “Cross-border cooperation projects in the Western Balkan region in the field of energy transition. Existing policies and funding instruments” as a part of conceptual input on local bottom-up approaches and instruments for green energy transition.
Supported by a team of German and local experts, selected participants from the six Western Balkan countries had the opportunity to assess their potential and generate ideas for cross-border cooperation projects in energy-related sectors, aimed at bringing tangible benefits to their communities. The workshop was structured to facilitate open dialogue among participants and provide them with a platform to identify cooperation potential. Following the workshop, and based on the outcomes and quality of the ideas presented, dena will develop recommendations for key governmental decision-makers from Germany and Western Balkan countries on supporting a cross-border cooperation initiative involving the participating communities.
Beside our programme directors and dena representatives, participants included representatives of selected municipalities from the Western Balkans, German Federal Foreign Office and German Embassy in Belgrade, Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia and other representatives.
