Sinno: Climate issues will be increasingly important in the story of energy efficiency

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - It is clear what the current and future obligations towards the Energy Community are. We need sincere interest, but also the strength to embark on a sustainable path, emphasized at today's thematic session of the House of Representatives of the FBiH by the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, Khaldoun Sinno. 

"BiH had a high degree of alignment in the past, but is now lagging behind. More proceedings have been initiated against BiH. I think a total of nine. This is not conducive to the country's image, for investments, and for BiH as a reliable partner. I think you all need to work on this together. The measures that need to be taken may require changes to laws, restructuring...", Sinno said.

He added that climate issues will be increasingly important in the story of energy efficiency. 

"By 2023, we will have new climate plans, and one such plan will be for BiH. It is not just about fulfilling obligations, but about ensuring the well-being of citizens", Sinno concluded. 

The British Ambassador to BiH, Matt Field, said that during his multi-year stay in BiH, he realized that this is a country of enormous natural resources, which is suitable for the development of industry and renewable energy. 

He noted that they have invested significant funds in the development of the first energy strategy. 

"Despite many potentials, thermal power plants still produce about 60 percent of electricity, while most countries are reducing this. Your energy sector urgently needs investments, three billion is needed to build a competitive sector. Reform of the energy sector is also needed", Field said. 

Janez Kopač, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, said that the EC is the antechamber of the European Union. He said that by joining the Energy Community, Bosnia and Herzegovina has undertaken certain obligations.

Kopač adds that Bosnia and Herzegovina has nine lawsuits for violating rules and that only Serbia is worse in the region.

He emphasized that legal solutions must be harmonized. 

"DERK must have some competencies, which it does not have now. An additional problem is that the FBiH has no law on gas, while the RS recently adopted a fairly high-quality law. The RS has almost no gas sector and has a law, while the FBiH, which has a much more developed gas sector, has no law. This is also a problem for gas consumers in FBiH", Kopač said. 

He adds that only Sweden and Denmark have higher gas prices for industry than BiH.

He reiterated the Energy Community's opinion that the FBiH's guarantee for Block 7 is a violation of state aid rules, as state aid up to 80 percent is allowed, and the FBiH provided 100 percent state aid.

Kopač also commented on the subsidizing of gas prices by KS and said that this is also a violation of the rules. 

"The price of gas is among the highest in Europe because there is no competition", added the Director of the Secretariat of the European Community.