Montenegro has submitted its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) to the Energy Community, according to a statement from the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development.
Minister Damjan Ćulafić participated in a meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community in Vienna, at the invitation of the Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, Artur Lorkowski.
During the meeting, it was announced that the contracting parties have made progress in decarbonizing their energy sectors, particularly in terms of carbon pricing and decarbonization efforts.
The meeting brought together energy and environment ministers, as well as senior representatives from the region, to determine priorities for the upcoming year.
The session was opened by Staša Košarac, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and this year’s Chair of the Energy Community, along with European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Kadri Simson, and Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director-General of DG ENER.
Key outcomes included the adoption of a Recommendation to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy and the approval of the Project List of Interest for the Energy Community (PECI).
The meeting also emphasized the importance of transposing the Electricity Integration Package (EIP) as a critical step toward integrating the electricity markets of the contracting parties into the EU.
The Ministerial Council welcomed the Final Report on the impact assessment for establishing a regional emissions trading system within the contracting parties, which will serve as an important input for discussions in the next year on carbon prices in line with the EU’s enlargement policy.
Jan Dusik, Deputy Director-General of DG CLIMA, presented the climate and economic benefits of introducing carbon pricing among the contracting parties in preparation for EU accession.
On the margins of the meeting, Minister Ćulafić held talks with Dusik on climate targets and Montenegro’s efforts to align its national legislation with the EU Acquis.
The discussion also covered the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), which has been submitted to the Energy Community.
Additionally, a bilateral meeting was held with Izet Medziti, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of North Macedonia, where the two sides agreed on future cooperation plans.
