Parliamentary Forum Chairperson Dr Aleksandra Tomic said that the energy transition in Serbia is part of the energy transition in all of Europe and is following model of Germany, a forerunner in the long-term process. It is essential to change the Serbian people’s perception of energy as such and its importance for environmental conservation, said Tomic, adding that energy efficiency needs to be viewed as a new energy source. She stressed that the Parliamentary Forum and the National Assembly have helped broach of these important topics in society.

The representative of the German Embassy in Serbia Anne-Kristin Piplica said that energy transition is the most important political, economic and social topic in Germany, Serbia and the world. Germany, as an industrial country, has adopted the climate package according to which the country is supposed to stop using coal by 2038 and become carbon neutral by 2050. Piplica said that right now 40% of Germany’s power comes from renewable energy resources - wind and the sun, which has opened up new markets with new jobs and sustainable technologies. The transition to renewable energy sources and environmental conservation requires structural changes and political support, yes, but each individual also has to contribute, she stressed.

The Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Serbia and Montenegro Norbert Beckmann-Dierkes spoke about the Foundation’s projects concerning the preservation of the quality of life and concrete policies promoting awareness and change in people’s everyday habits.

The Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Simon Ilse said that energy transition toward decarbonisation and use of renewable energy sources is a non-partisan and interdisciplinary effort, underlining the parliament’s important role in the adoption of legislation that promotes the use of renewable energy sources.

The members of the Committee and the Parliamentary Forum and the other participants discussed the regulations and financial mechanisms needed for energy transition. International expert Sonja Risteska of Agora Energiewende presented the Risk Management Study highlighting the mechanisms developed to attract more investments into renewable energy sources (the sun and wind) in Serbia and other countries of South-East Europe. It is vital to see the economic potential and practical policy instruments for energy transition, she said. Best practice examples were presented by MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel on behalf of the European Parliament Greens and representative of the Federation of German Industries Dr Eberhard von Rottenburg.

The attending also discussed the Serbia 2019 Energy Progress Report presented by the Director of the e Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac. State Secretary at the Ministry of Mining and Energy Mirjana Filipovic and the President of the Council of the Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia Dejan Popovic took part in the discussion moderated by the Chairperson of the Committee on the Economy, Regional Development, Trade, Tourism and Energy Snezana B. Petrovic.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Snezana B. Petrovic and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Momo Colakovic, Dr Aleksandra Tomic, Maja Macuzic Puzic, Zoran Bojanic, Snezana R. Petrovic, Natasa St. Jovanovic, Ana Carapic, Dragana Kostic and Snezana Paunovic.