On July 5^th, a day after the Paris Western Balkans forum, Strasbourg saw a dinner debate entitled “The Western Balkans meeting EU energy and climate goals“. The event exploring this highly relevant issue was hosted by the NIS EU Liaison Office.

Nikola Radovanović, Chief Legal Officer for EU Legislation of NIS jsc, within the context of energy potential in the Western Balkans, elaborated on how companies can further contribute to achieving energy and climate goals of the EU if they are poised to adhere to the five pillars of the Energy Union – security of supply, energy efficiency, a fully - integrated internal energy market, an increased share of renewable energy sources, research and innovation, and decarbonization. The energy efficiency discussion at the outset of the debate pointed out an overall  25% energy efficiency boost which NIS accomplished between 2012 and 2015, which brought significant savings to the company while preserving the environment. NIS has also been leading the way in increasing security of supply (it expanded the indigenous resource base of natural gas and crude oil and is ready to contribute to the full establishment of mandatory stocks of crude oil and petroleum products by 2023), delivering projects that increase the share of renewables in the energy mix, along with its major contribution to research and innovation.  

Besides the representative of NIS, interventions were given by Slavcho Neykov, Chairman of the Board of Managers Energy Management Institute based in Sofia, Bulgaria and Roderic van Voorst, Policy Officer at DG Energy, European Commission.

European Parliament representatives attended the debate, as well as representatives  of European Energy Forum member–organisations, alongside members of energy associations.

Read more: http://www.europeanenergyforum.eu/events/western-balkans-meeting-eu-energy-and-climate-goals