Western Balkans energy transition requires sustainable funding and community inclusion

At a Just Transition Forum held in Podgorica, regional stakeholders called for a decisive shift from fossil fuels toward renewable energy in the Western Balkans. Participants, including representatives from the Energy Community Secretariat, civil society, and financial institutions, emphasized that the transition must be inclusive to avoid social instability.

Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, stressed that transition plans cannot be sustainable without involving the people directly affected by the shift away from fossil fuels. He also highlighted the need for predictable and sustainable financing, including local revenue streams, to ensure national energy and climate plans move beyond theoretical frameworks.

Civil society organizations warned against expanding gas infrastructure, noting that planned capacity could increase regional gas imports by 10.5 billion cubic meters—more than triple the 2023 consumption. Experts cautioned that heavy reliance on fossil gas risks long-term economic dependency and financial instability, particularly as the region faces pressures from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).