Photo: GIZ ORF-EE
A parliamentary delegation from Kosovo* visited Podgorica, Montenegro on December 4 and 5 to discuss best practices and challenges concerning the preparation and implementation process of energy efficiency legislation and other topics pertaining to the energy sector. The meeting was held with representatives of the Ministry of Economy of Montenegro, the Montenegrin Parliament, and civil society organizations. The exchange was made possible through the support of the GIZ Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe – Energy Efficiency (ORF-EE).
GIZ ORF-EE coordinated the organization of the event with its long-term partners, the Prishtina Institute for Political Studies and the Montenegrin School of Political Studies. The event was held as part of the ORF-EE project “Regional Cooperation and Capacity Development of Parliamentarians of South-East Europe on Energy Efficiency and Climate Topics.”
During the two-day gathering, Kosovo* parliamentarians led by Sala Berisha-Shala, Chair of the Kosovo* Parliament Committee for Economic Development, Infrastructure, Trade and Industry, and Montenegrin hosts, Genci Nimanbegu, Vice President of the Parliament, and Predrag Sekulić, Chair of the Committee for Economy, Finances, and Budget of the Montenegrin Parliament, discussed possibilities at parliaments’ disposal to help raise awareness of the importance of energy efficiency, support for ongoing projects, and improvement of parliaments’ supervisory role in the field.
Kosovo* delegation worked on energy efficiency law passed in early November
The Kosovo* delegation comprised four MPs who earlier this year established a parliamentary group to prepare the energy efficiency law, which was adopted in early November this year with strong participation of the GIZ ORF-EE partner in Kosovo*, the Prishtina Institute for Political Studies. Kosovo* is now beginning the implementation of the energy efficiency law and the MPs sought to look into the Montenegrin Parliament’s approach and practice related to the implementation of the country’s energy efficiency legislation.
Commenting on the activity, Jasna Sekulović, ORF-EE Project Manager, said “We are very glad that the idea for this visit came directly from Kosovo* MPs, as this reflects a direct impact of our previous activities conducted on regional level – such as the First and Second South-East Europe Parliamentary Forum on EE and Climate, held in Vienna in December 2017 and in late November this year, including the study trip to the Bundestag/Bundesrat in Berlin in June this year.
“This exchange initiative by parliamentarians from Kosovo* proves that the regional approach the GIZ ORF-EE applies is recognized by SEE parliamentarians and is an added value for the planning process of national policies in the field of energy efficiency,” Sekulović added.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Be the first one to comment on this article.