The objective of 6th Energy Arena, organized today in Belgrade in partnership with NIS and the National Petroleum Committee of Serbia, was to stimulate a discussion about the energy policy of the European Union within the Energy Community partnerships. The conference was an opportunity to deliberate strategies that ensure energy safety, increase energy efficiency, and mitigate climate change impact. Zorana Mihajlović, Fabrizio Barbaso and Kirill Kravchenko, Chief Executive Officer of NIS The 6th Energy Arena was attended by: Mr Ivica Dačić, Serbian Prime Minister, Ms Zorana Mihajlović, President of the Energy Community Ministerial Council, Serbian Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection, Mr Fabrizio Barbaso, Deputy Director General for Energy, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission, Mr Janez Kopač, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, Austria, Mr Kirill Kravchenko, Chief Executive Officer of NIS, Ms Daniela Bobeva, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Valeriu Lazar, Moldavian Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Mr Damian Gjiknuri, Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy of Albania. Two round tables took place during the day: European Union’s energy strategy and South-East Europe; and private sector's perspective in the alignment of South-East European market with the EU energy policy and strategy. The conference was concluded with a High-level debate on the energy policy issues. During the Energy arena event, NIS CEO met with Daniela Bobeva, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Mr Fabrizio Barbaso, the Deputy Director General for Energy at the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission, said: The Energy Community opens Europe's energy market beyond the EU border. As a result of market opening, millions of people in this region have additional rights and protection. Companies can operate in a situation of greater transparency. And the conditions for investment are improved, not least in the knowledge that investors are dealing with a market not of 10 million or even 50 million users, but a network of half a billion consumers. On this occasion, President of the Energy Community Ministerial Council, Serbian Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection, Ms. Zorana Mihajlović, declared: “Given the new energy strategy and the upcoming amendments to the Energy Law, which are to bring it into alignment with the EU directives, as well as compliance with the undertaken obligations to Energy Community, we may say that the Serbian energy sector is already one foot in the European Union. Our vision for Serbia is to make it an electricity exporter, and a transit country, and the storage for energy and energy producing products, which are a prerequisite for its accelerated economic development" Serbian prime minister Ivica Dačić with Kirill Kravchenko before the last session Mr. Kirill Kravchencko, the Chief Executive of NIS, said: “Energy is the driving force of the Balkans economy. Today 8 out of 10 largest regional companies are representing this industry. Energy is the source of the major flow of investments and tax revenue to the state budget, the largest employer and a center of technological development. Investment potential of the sector up to 2030 is estimated by experts at the rate of about 60 billion euros which implies even more intensive cooperation among the countries of the region. We are able to help the integration of the region and to accelerate economic development in the difficult macroeconomic conditions. In my opinion, this conference is one of the instruments on building such a dialogue and explore new mutual approaches.” High-level debate on the energy policy issues with participants (from left to right) Ivica Dačić, Fabrizio Barbaso, Valeriu Lazar, Damian Gjiknuri Conclusions from the 6th Energy arena: - Politicians, business must give full attention to consumers and ordinary people - decision-making process should be transparent and open to public; - Business sector and investors call for stable and continuous legislation that will secure long-term investments; - There will be continued modest growth in the refined product demand that is supported by current investments in refining sector - Considering financial viability of renewable projects, the question is whether the chosen strategy for renewable energy is affordable - Small energy infrastructure projects have a higher chances for success than bigger-scale projects - Post 2020 energy strategy should give energy efficiency a higher priority; it must become economic industry - Further market harmonization will enable SEE region's growth and developments and increase its competitiveness
