The American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia (AmCham Serbia) has identified the consistent implementation of the green agenda as a vital component of the reforms sought by its members, according to the annual “Lap Time” survey. Over the past five years, the green agenda has climbed from the 11th to the 2nd spot in priority.
This significant increase in the emphasis on green policies—both in energy and environmental protection—can be attributed to corporate strategies, decarbonization commitments, sustainable business practices, and the need to align with EU regulations to access the European market.
In light of this, the upcoming amendments to the Energy Law were a major focus during the conference titled “Economy on the Path to Green Transition,” organized by AmCham Serbia.
“Implementing the Green Agenda consistently is one of AmCham’s strategic priorities. Energy is essential for the ongoing decarbonization of the economy, enabling companies to compete effectively in the EU market, which remains the largest export market for Serbian businesses. We are pleased with the constructive collaboration with the Ministry of Mining and Energy on numerous issues and the progress achieved in the energy sector,” stated Stefan Lazarević, Chairman of AmCham Serbia, at the conference.
He underscored the necessity of monitoring the implementation of new legal frameworks that promote further investments in green energy production and the development of large renewable energy projects, fostering collaboration through Corporate Power Purchase Agreements.
“We also welcome the initiation of the first—and hopefully second—auctions for green megawatts, ensuring the stability and continual enhancement of the energy system. I hope that public energy enterprises will also receive the necessary resources and tools to adapt to these changes,” Lazarević noted.
The panel featured discussions with Rade Mrdak, Advisor at the Ministry of Mining and Energy; Davor Pupovac, Director of Market Analysis and Risk Management at Elektroprivreda Srbije; Nenad Šijaković, Advisor to the General Director for International and Regulatory Issues at Elektromreža Srbije; Dalibor Nikolić, Director of DEES Management at Elektrodistribucija Srbije; and Jovan Šljivić, Senior Manager at KPMG Consulting.
Panelists elaborated on the amendments to the Energy Law, especially regarding the new concept of the “active customer,” the conditions necessary for successful implementation, and the roles of guaranteed suppliers, as well as transmission and distribution system operators in this process.
Discussions also covered changes in connection procedures to distribution and transmission networks, as well as plans for enhancing system capacity.
Moreover, a portion of the dialogue focused on the need to align with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and explore strategies for reducing both direct and indirect CO2 emissions within the economy.
