Over the years, the EU, international financial institutions and donors have all made substantial contributions to support the Western Balkans in the area of energy efficiency (EE). Energy efficiency is now seen as a key pillar in the Western Balkans national energy strategies, aiming to enhance energy security, contribute to economic growth, and ensure environmental sustainability.

To facilitate further EU assistance, the CONNECTA team prepared the Scoping Report for the ‘Building Stock Study for the Public Sector in the Western Balkans’. While the EE progress and the actions taken differ from country to country, the Scoping Report identifies the following requests for further technical assistance to be provided to support the region in implementing the measures in accordance with EU Directives, meeting energy efficiency targets and fully benefiting from related investments:

• Complete data collection for both Central Government buildings as well as for other Public buildings in Montenegro;
• Data collection/validation of initial data sets for all Public buildings in Montenegro and North Macedonia;
• Energy Audits in accordance with national and EU legislation in Central Government buildings in Bosnia & Herzegovina and North Macedonia;
• Energy Audits in accordance with national and EU legislation in other Public buildings in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo* and Serbia;
• Elaboration of Operational Plans for EE measures in Public Buildings in Bosnia & Herzegovina; and
• Development of technical documentation for specific EE renovation measures in Serbia.

The Western Balkans have a great potential to benefit from energy efficiency measures. By signing the Energy Community Treaty, the Western Balkans committed to implementing key EU energy legislation. Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency (EED) brings measures to step up efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain – from the transformation of energy and its distribution to its final consumption. The potential for saving energy in the Western Balkans building sector (both public and commercial/residential) is as high as 40%, provided that buildings are renovated to meet the minimum energy performance requirements set in the Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD). One of the EED measures includes an exemplary role to be played by the public sector. Addressing poor energy performance of public buildings is at the core of the EED, as well as the EPBD.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

The Technical Assistance to Connectivity in the Western Balkans (CONNECTA) is an EU-funded technical assistance contract whose overall objective is to assist in the development and completion of the core transport and energy networks in the Western Balkans region.

Additional information on CONNECTA’s assistance can be obtained by contacting Chris Germanacos, CONNECTA Team Leader, at [email protected].