Janez Kopač, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, has congratulated Albania and North Macedonia on opening EU accession negotiation process.

Albania and North Macedonia, Energy Community Contracting Parties, reached on March 24 political agreement with the European Union to open accession negotiation, thus joining Montenegro and Serbia, also the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community, in the process.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate Albania and North Macedonia for reaching this critical step in the EU accession process. The Energy Community Secretariat will continue to stand behind all its members and support them on their energy sector reform paths. Over the fifteen years of its existence, the Energy Community has proven to be an indispensable tool for energy sector integration in the wider European space. It is our ambition that all Contracting Parties stand on an equal footing in a pan-European energy market,” stated on this occasion Janez Kopač, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat.

Director Kopač has been recently very active in the Western Balkan region where he participated in several events which addressed the topic of energy transition in the region. While explaining the necessity, benefits and challenges of the process, Kopač commended North Macedonia and its efforts to speed up the decarbonization process in the country. He referred to the development of 100 MW solar power plant project at Oslomej coal pit by state-owned power utility ESM  as a best practice example to be followed by other Contracting Parties.