Assessing BiH’s progress in the area of energy and environment in the EU integration process was the focus of a Citizens for Europe Initiative public discussion held in the EU HQ in Sarajevo on 24 October 24. Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, Deputy Head of Mission, Royal Embassy of Sweden to BiH, Pelle Persson, the Coordinator of the Initiative Citizens for Europe, Amra Selesković, Thematic civil society advocates, Lena Bratić and Azrudin Husika, participated in the discussion along with over 50 representatives of relevant government institutions, agencies and NGOs.
Speaking at the opening session, Ambassador Sorensen stressed that energy supply is a pillar for social and economic development. “Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it is noted in the recently published EU Progress Report, is making little progress in the energy sector. In the field of energy efficiency, Bosnia and Herzegovina is lagging behind the other Contracting Parties of the Energy Community Treaty. There is no appropriate legislative and institutional framework relevant for this field that is in line with the acquis. Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing an immediate need to adopt energy efficiency laws and by-laws, this being particularly relevant for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, he underlined.
This year, the CfE network aim to achieve three priority goals by the end of 2013, namely to press the relevant institutions:
- to approve the Draft National Energy Efficiency Action Plan;
- for Entity funds for environmental protection to adopt new rules for financing projects in the energy efficiency sector;
- to secure progress in documenting the forest fund, as well as implementation of the obligations from the EU Directive on forests cutting and harmonisation of the regulations in view of protecting wood-processing industry.
The CfE is a unique action of civil society in BiH aimed at advancing the EU integration process and in intensifying the activities of governmental officials in the implementation of the necessary reforms. After three years work, the initiative has grown into a network of 67 members, NGOs from across BiH which, through their work, contribute to the BiH path to the EU. Several hundreds of citizens, state officials and public servants, as well as experts have participated in thematic consultations since 2010. Based on the identified needs of the citizens, entrepreneurs, as well as feedback from public and governmental officials, the thematic experts of the Citizens for Europe initiative have developed an objective overview of the situation in BiH and have identified key priorities.
The Citizens for Europe Initiative is being realised under the auspices of the office of the EU Special Representative in BiH and is funded by the Embassy of Sweden and SIDA. This year the Initiative is led by the expert team of NGO Vesta from Tuzla.
Further information on the CfE can be found at www.gradjanizaeuropu.ba
