[readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/cp/Conference proceedings.pdf"]Conference proceedings[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/cp/Agenda.pdf"]Agenda[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/cp/Conclusions.pdf"]Conclusions[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/images/stories/files/cp/Conclusions MKD.pdf"]Conclusions MKD[/readon2] | [readon2 url="http://analyticamk.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=316:presentations&catid=52:energy-and-infrastructure&Itemid=167"]Presentations[/readon2]

On 29-30 October 2012 in Skopje took place the regional energy conference Implementing energy policies at local level which Analytica jointly organized with the European Commission within its Local Administration Facility (LAF) program and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The main idea was to gather the local authorities of the Western Balkans countries, EU representatives, experts as well as private sector representatives, CSOs and relevant international organizations in order to discuss possibilities, strategies and policies for strengthening the local authorities’ capacities in energy project management and fundraising.

The idea behind this conference is offering a common platform for exchange and communication between different stakeholders on the topic of energy policies and their state of implementation on local level with the overall aim of contributing to better local energy policy implementation in the region. In focus were the local authorities which as result of the region’s determination to join the EU are to develop and implement energy policies at local level, thus are often faced with set of challenges from lack of human and financial capacities till lack of networking and experience exchange.

Present at the conference were representatives from the municipalities in the Western Balkan countries as the municipality of Karposh, Macedonia, the municipality of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the municipality of Podgorica, Montenegro etc.; representatives from international institutions and donors as NALAS, the Energy Community Secretariat, the Covenant of Mayors, the Committee of Regions, the Infrastructure Projects Facility in the Western Balkans, GIZ Office Montenegro; private sector representatives as Toplifikacija Indzenering, CSOs as SEE Change Net, DOOR etc.; experts and energy professionals. Main topics were the state of energy policies at local level throughout the countries of the region; the necessity of regional cooperation in the energy area; the challenge of funding local energy projects as well as the importance of inter-sector cooperation in the area.

At the conference the necessity of regional and inter-sector cooperation with both the private and civil sector was emphasized, the importance of energy policy development at local level was stressed as well as the need of investing in the local authorities regarding energy related matters was highlighted.

Pictures of the conference may be found here.

For more information on the conference, please contact Ms Ana Stojilovska, Research Fellow of the Energy and Infrastructure Programme: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.