Authorities supported citizens' recommendations in the energy and environment sector
Authorities supported most of the civil society's recommendations, presented at today's meeting of the „Citizens for Europe“ Initiative with the decision makers in BiH, on the theme „Faster to Europe through the reform of the energy and environment sector“. Participants were addressed by the EUSR in BiH, Valentin Inzko, under whose auspices the initiative is taking place. His message was that today the citizens are calling on the authorities to talk to them, given that citizens are „frustrated and disappointed in their leaders who are unable to come up with a solution“. Inzko emphasised that the EU supports this initiative, as well as its recommendations, and that they are not much different from those that the political parties supported prior to the latest parliamentary elections.
His Excellency, Mr Bosse Hedberg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to BiH, reflected on the potential of BiH's energy sector, as well as numerous shortcomings, notiong that the existing legal framework and tarrif system in BiH are not encouraging a rational use of energy by end users.
„Sectors of energy and envronment are inexplicably stagnating from the very start of the EU integration process“, said a representative of the BiH Directorate for EU integrations, Maja Rimac Bjelobrk, and that nothing was done in the last six months to tackle the priorities in the energy and environment sector.
Lena Bratić, member of the working group for energy and environment, thanked the attending government representatives, for their active participation in the discussion, thereby demonstrating their will to move the reform process forward jointly. Ms Bratić pointed to the key recommendations made by the civil society to the authorities, including, among other, the priority need for a strategic energy planning at the state level, establishing of a national environment and energy efficiency agency, passing of the law on environmental protection at the BiH level, and establishment of the DNA agency.
Representatives of responsible ministries at the state and entity levels in principle supported the civil society recommendations in the energy and environment sector, however lack of coordination between entity and national authorities on issues pertaining to passing and implementation of laws, was pointed out as the greatest obstacle.
Authorities also welcomed the continuation of concrete cooperation with the civil society, and have accepted the proposal to appoint a focal point at the ministry, for cooperation with the civil society sector, noting that establishment of DNA agency can be expected soon. This is a precondition for implementation of projects funded from the clear energy fund, which would increase the number of investments in this sector.
Elektroprivreda companies from BiH offered to the civil society organisatgions a concrete cooperation in terms of producing an analysis and recommendations, while CSO representatives called on the authorities to come up with a list of priority needs and objectives of ministries in these sectors, so as to provide an adequate support of the civil society.
Initiative Citizens for Europe gathers 38 civil society organisations with a view to promote the process of BiH integration into the EU. The initiative is taking place under the auspices of the EUSR, with the financial support of SIDA, and in cooperation with DEI BiH.
