On 27 June, RERI and the Bankwatch CEE network presented reports on the challenges of the energy transition in the Western Balkans during a panel discussion titled “Beyond the Smoke Screen: The Western Balkans’ Path to Compliance with the EU depollution legislation as part of the Green Agenda.” The event marked the launch of Bankwatch CEE’s seventh report “Comply or Close: Seven years of deadly legal breaches by Western Balkan coal plants”, alongside RERI’s report on the application of rule of law standards in the energy transition in the Western Balkans.
The panel brought together civil society representatives and experts working on energy transition and climate policy from both the European Union and the Western Balkans to discuss the urgent need for consistent application of EU standards embodied in the principle “Fundamentals First” in the Western Balkans energy transition.
Mirko Popović, Programme Director at RERI, emphasised that:
“Respect for the rule of law principles is essential for fulfilling the obligations under the Treaty Establishing Energy Community and achieving pollution reduction targets in the Western Balkans. Governments in the region must take responsibility for pollution and violations of citizens’ rights, while judicial authorities must ensure polluters are held accountable. Moreover, it is crucial that national parliaments are involved in monitoring the implementation of the Treaty Establishing Energy Community, as the executive cannot oversee itself.”
Pippa Gallop, Southeast Europe Energy Policy Officer at Bankwatch CEE, highlighted:
“EU enlargement is back on the agenda, but the harsh reality is that Western Balkan governments show little concern for people’s health or the environment. Instead of a robust response to these chronic violations, the European Commission recently designated Serbia’s Jadar lithium mine as a ‘strategic’ project, effectively rewarding the regime’s failure to uphold the rule of law. This must change—and swiftly.”
The panel also featured insights on the state of the rule of law, energy transition, and progress in aligning with EU standards from Peter Vajda, Senior Environmental Adviser at the Energy Community Secretariat and Martijn Quinn, Deputy Head of Unit Regional and Bilateral Environmental Cooperation, DG ENVI, European Commission.
Panel discussion was organised within the project “Fundamentals First – Improving the Rule of Law and inclusiveness in the Western Balkans Energy Transition” with support from the Open Society Foundation for the Western Balkans, as part of Ignita – a regional civil society cooperation initiative.
