Participants at the 5th Energy and Climate Committee meeting, organized by the Energy Community Secretariat, have stressed the connection between national energy and climate plans (NECPs) and the European Green Deal, focusing in particular on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

The meeting was held digitally as part of the response to the COVID-19 situation and measures issued by Austrian authorities.

According to the Energy Community website, the meeting drew together more than 70 participants to discuss the contracting parties’ progress on the preparation of revised nationally determined contributions (NDCs), ahead of COP26, and NECPs.

As could be heard at the meeting, the European Commission considers NECPs as the foundation for delivering the European Green Deal.

The commission will support decarbonization at international level

The commission will support decarbonization efforts at the international level within various actions, as could be heard.

The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans should unlock the region’s huge renewable energy potentials and enhance citizens’ health

Among other activities in this direction, the EU will strengthen the EU’s Green Deal diplomacy in cooperation with the member states. It will prepare the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and propose the respect of the Paris Agreement as an essential element for all future comprehensive trade agreements.

The commission opted for the creation of a Green Agenda for the Western Balkans to unlock the region’s huge renewable energy potential and to strengthen the regional cooperation, enhance citizens’ health and support the circular economy in the countries through the support of their NECPs, it was said at the meeting.

N. Macedonia to finalize NECP by May 2020

Chaired by Connie Hedegaard, former EU commissioner for climate action, the meeting took stock of the contracting parties’ efforts and progress towards their pledges under the global Paris Agreement on climate change and considered the main opportunities and challenges to embrace article 6 on carbon markets, the secretariat said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has also started drafting the plan

The revision of NDCs, national climate commitments, is progressing in parallel with the drafting of the NECPs.

North Macedonia has already made progress with the plan, which is expected to be finalized by May 2020. The country is also working on its fourth national communication and third biennial update report.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has also started drafting the plan in the context of its national working group which includes 90 officially appointed representatives. Montenegro is currently focusing on amending its Energy Law to provide a legal basis for further work on the NECP, the secretariat said.