FES SOE PEET – Political Economy of Energy Transition in Southeast Europe

The analysis goes beyond overrated and/or false solutions to these obstacles and focuses on commendable actions that allow for a symbiotic bottom-up and top-down approach, which would strengthen the rule of law and regional cooperation.  

Download the PEET Study here 

„The socio-ecological transformation of Southeast Europe (SEE) begins with and depends on the energy transition of the region. The looming global climate crisis, ever-growing regional air pollution levels, and social inequalities alone could be mitigated in the SEE with the well-designed and thoroughly implemented energy transition. Yet, despite all reasons, excellent inter-connection of the countries and the existing technologies that could improve the efficiency of energy systems and overall use of resources, the region, especially the Western Balkans (WB) is still lagging. While most of the European Union countries are well on their way to decarbonize their energy systems, the SEE and the WB in particular, are still grappling with the preceding transition-liberalization of energy markets, thus doubling the challenge”.

Selma Šehović, Project Manager / Dr. Ralf Melzer, Director

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Dialogue Southeast Europe 

„Region-wide recommendations on how to overcome the barriers to a sustainable energy transition are provided in this synthesis report, while more specific recommendations are provided in the country analyses. Most of these issues are much wider than the energy sector and require further sustained efforts by all actors to improve democratic development, the rule of law, institutional capacity, and transparency and accountability of decision-making. There is no alternative but to step up the painstaking work done every day in this field by public institutions, journalists, civil society organizations and the international community and to make sure that decision-makers are held accountable for their actions”.

Pippa Gallop, Emily Gray, Elena Nikolovska, Alexandru Mustață, and Raluca Petcu

CEE Bankwatch Network

PEET Study was commissioned by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Dialogue Southeast Europe, within the framework of advancing socio-ecological transformation and working towards social and economic justice in the region.