Western Balkans struggle to break free from coal despite EU energy reforms
The Energy Community was established in 2005 to help the Western Balkans align their energy policies with EU standards. Founded by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, it aimed to boost renewable energy and improve security. Ukraine later joined in 2011 to reduce its reliance on Russian gas and diversify its energy sources.
Despite years of effort, progress in the region has remained slow, with coal still dominating energy plans in countries like Serbia. The Energy Community Treaty was designed to strengthen energy cooperation and stability in the Western Balkans after the breakup of Yugoslavia. It provided a framework for adopting EU energy laws and promoting cleaner power sources. However, many of its goals have yet to be fully realised.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Tuzla thermal power plant continues to operate without proper pollution controls. The lack of desulphurisation filters has led to severe health problems and environmental harm for local communities. Meanwhile, Serbia still relies heavily on coal, despite receiving subsidies for fossil fuel industries.
The European Commission has tools to support energy transitions in partner countries, including the Western Balkans and Ukraine. One key step could be integrating the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package into the Energy Community Treaty. Regional cooperation in electricity could also bring economic gains of around €270 million each year for the countries involved.
Yet, the success of these changes depends on political commitment from the governments in the region. Without stronger action, years of energy and environmental reforms may continue to fall short of expectations. The EU can help create the right conditions for modernising energy systems in the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Stronger enforcement of existing agreements and better regional cooperation could drive real progress.
For now, the Energy Community Treaty remains an important but limited tool in pushing for cleaner, more secure energy across the region.
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