The Energy Community sent praises and requests to Serbia, while the Energy Community Progress Report for 2019 states that we have made the most progress in improving energy efficiency, while in other energy fields there is neither progress nor setback.
The Energy Community is pleased that the Government of Serbia has adopted the National Emission Emission Plan because it is crucial to addressing pollution. They also believe that the Turkish Stream pipeline through Serbia is certain. The main complaints, as expected, were addressed to “Srbijagas”, although the company split the activity into distribution and transport
– “Srbijagas” is not functionally separated – said Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac.
– The biggest problem in the gas sector remains that there is no competition and the gas market is completely monopolized. The entry point in Horgos, meaning the pipeline from Hungary to Serbia, has no access for other traders.
The energy community also addresses the Serbian electricity market, as the state continues to determine the price of electricity for households.
– The market is formally liberalized. So, there is no problem on paper, but the retail price is still regulated and is far below market – added Kopac.
The EU estimates that Serbia has climbed the energy ladder in line with climate change. And because of the environmental impact of the energy sector, we need to move closer to European standards.
– In the Energy Development Strategy of Serbia until 2025, with projections until 2030, energy efficiency is recognized as a new energy source – said the President of the Parliamentary Forum for Energy Policy of Serbia, Aleksandra Tomic.
– It is expected that, based on energy efficiency measures, up to 80 percent of emission reductions could be achieved in the final energy consumption sector.
The main complaints, as expected, were addressed to “Srbijagas”, although the company split the activity into distribution and transport
A good example to follow in this work is Germany. Forty percent of the electricity is already generated from renewable sources and by 2038 it will abandon coal production.
– The road to this is not easy, but it will be worth it, and everyone has to contribute to it, – said Ann Kristin Piplica, head of the German Embassy’s Business Department in Belgrade. – If we succeed, others will say – yes, it is possible. But these changes must also have political support.
– When the Turkish Stream pipeline flows through Bulgaria and Serbia, the Horgos crossing, where Serbia is now taking over Russian gas, will be open to all other gas importers, so any country that has it will be able to offer gas – said the President of the Council Serbian Energy Agency Dejan Popovic, responding to comments from the Energy Community.
Member of European Parliament, Viola von Kramon said the EU is there to support Serbia because it is the last chance.
“It is not good for us to depend on energy from nuclear and fossil fuels”, Viola von Kramon added.
– Serbia is not yet a member of the Union, but you are part of Europe and we will introduce a tax on coal energy coming from countries in your region.
However, even for Germany, giving up coal is not an easy process. German businessmen say – we can only replace it if a safe alternative is found, Dnevnik reports.
