Analytica commenting on the EBRD's Draft Energy Strategy

Sonja Zuber and Ana Stojilovska with other SEE SEP members took part on 4 September 2013 in Belgrade in the Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on the EBRD's Draft Energy Strategy. SEE SEP network’s comments were based on this network’s first Red flag report analyzing the investments of EBRD and other IFIs in the Western Balkan region in the past few years highlighting in the report that EBRD should not support investments in coal. Analytica’s comments presented at the consultation meeting were also that the Strategy does not give a clear picture which investments will be financed by the EBRD in the future and that the Bank’s priorities should be regionally grouped. Priorities for the Western Balkan region should be investing in improving the legal environment tackling renewable energy and energy efficiency; investments in decentralized heat including co-generation utilities, tackling the issue of energy poverty; and investing in gas infrastructure as a mean to phase out coal.