EnC Director tells Kosovo’s Parliament: Prioritize Third
Package and Energy Efficiency, Published, 11 Feb 2015
Director Kopač outlined the status of Kosovo’s* implementation of the Energy Community acquis to Members of the Energy Committee of the Kosovo National Assembly in Pristina on 10 February. The Director underlined that the key priority for Kosovo should be the adoption of the package of laws transposing the Third Energy Package. Kosovo should also adopt as soon as possible the energy performance of buildings directive, the deadline for which expired in 2012. Integrating energy from sustainable renewable resources, such as combined heat and power (CHP) from biomass, into Kosovo’s energy mix was also important.
The Secretariat has assisted Kosovo in the preparation of Third Package draft laws and has recently submitted a draft law on energy performance of buildings to the Government as a way to kick-start the necessary national procedures. The energy efficiency law was developed under the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP) funded by the EU Western Balkans Investment Framework and implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in cooperation with the Secretariat. These draft laws, as well as a draft law on compulsory oil stocks prepared under a technical assistance project managed by the Secretariat, are compliant with the Energy Community framework and should be adopted without delay.
During his two-day visit, the Director also conveyed these messages to the Minister responsible for energy issues, Mr Blerand Stavileci. In addition, Mr Kopač met with key energy industry representatives, including from the Kosovo Electricity Transmission and System Operator, KOSTT, and Kosovo Energy Corporation, KEK. The Director was updated on the state of play of the construction of “Kosova e Re” power plant and the decommissioning of “Kosova A”. The director also held meetings with the Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Samuel Žbogar, and his team in order to exchange views and discuss potential areas of cooperation.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.