2023 Summer School Programme

The 19^th of August 2023 marks the beginning of an incredible learning experience, as from 17:00 until 20:30 you are welcomed to the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Belgrade for the start of the 2023 Energy Community Summer School. This edition we welcome participants from a variety of nationalities, generating a cultural mixture of students, which will certainly benefit both the formal and informal learning experience during the summer school. This special day will be moderated by the leading lecturers from University of Belgrade, senior officials from Head of Office - FES SOE and EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, and Dirk Buschle, Deputy Director of the Energy Community Secretariat.

After the opening ceremony, all participants will be kindly invited to join the welcoming dinner to be held within the Faculty of Political Sciences premises.

Deputy Director, Energy Community Secretariat, Austria

Dirk Buschle is Deputy Director of the Energy Community Secretariat since 2011 and has led its legal unit since 2007. As a Chairman of the Energy Community Dispute Resolution and Negotiation Centre, he is also responsible for dispute resolution and negotiations and has acted as mediator in high-profile investor-state conflicts in the energy sector. Prior to his current position, Dirk was Head of Cabinet of the President of the Court of Justice of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Luxembourg. Dirk is also Professor and Chairholder of the Iberdrola Manuel Marin Chair for European Energy and Climate Policy at the College of Europe in Bruges. He teaches the annual course “European and International Energy Policy and Governance”. He graduated in law from Constance University, Germany, and earned his Ph.D. at St. Gallen University in Switzerland. He has widely published in different areas of European policy and law, and has lectured at Universities of Reykjavik, Constance and St. Gallen as a visiting professor.

Social Sunday Highlights

• Departure from Hotel N
• Visit at TPP Kostolac: Thermal power plant complex operated by Elektroprivreda Srbije, located on the right bank of Danube river.
• Archaeological Park Viminacium: One of the most complex archaeological and significant cultural site of Serbia
• Lunch at Vinimacium
• Departure from Vinimacium
• Arrival at Lapovo
• Visit to solar power plant DELASOL. With installed capacity of 11.8 MW, the plant in Lapovo will be able to produce enough electricity for 2.100 households
• Arrival at the King's Winery. It contains archive wines, which are certainly the oldest national wines in Serbia.
• Departure to Belgrade
• Dinner Hotel N

PhD student at Masaryk University, Brno

Anežka is a PhD student and assistant at the Department of International Relations and European Studies at Masaryk University, Brno. Her research focuses on the energy transition, particularly de-coaling in Central Europe, especially Poland. She actively participated in the Czech-Polish round table and is involved in numerous research projects on energy transitions.

Research Associate / PhD Candidate at the Leibniz University of Hannover

As a Research Associate at the Leibniz University of Hannover, Inga Beyers currently pursues a PhD at the Institute of Electric Power Systems on the physical modelling of energy storage systems. She has always had a passion for teaching engineering and for making the intricacies of our energy system accessible and understandable – which she hopes to contribute to the 2023 Summer School. Born and raised in South Africa, Inga Beyers moved to Germany for her university studies. While finishing her Master’s Degree in Energy Engineering, she participated in the 2019 EC Summer School in Krakow.

Dušan has an Engineering background with a demonstrated history of working in the energy industry. He is currently working as Head of Development department in Security Coordination Centre SCC Ltd. Belgrade – regional company devoted to provide operational planning services to the Transmission System Operators. He is also SCC’s representative in ENTSO-E’s Steering Group Regional Coordination. He has Master Degree of Electrical Engineering and Computing from the School of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, as well as Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering and Computing from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Kragujevac. Dušan participated in several Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects as researcher and project manager.

Head of Gas Unit, Energy Community Secretariat 

Mr. Grujicic joined the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna in 2010. As Head of Gas Unit, he assesses and reviews the proper implementation and progress by the Contracting Parties of their obligations under Energy Community Treaty related to the gas acquis. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia in 1999. He held various positions within the Serbian major public electricity company, Elektroprivreda Srbije as a system operator. He joined the Ministry of Energy of Serbia where he occupied various head positions including the EU integration and international cooperation agenda. He was seconded as a national expert to the Energy Charter, Brussels. 

After finishing her master’s program in Technical Mathematics at the Vienna University of Technology, Lisa-Marie first worked as an advisor for a small consultancy specialized in the European gas market. In 2017 she joined the German NRA (Bundesnetzagentur), where she was tasked with projects related to electricity markets, in particular the implementation of CACM and the Electricity Regulation. During her secondment to ACER as a national expert, she contributed to ACER’s Recommendation on amendments to CACM (‘CACM 2.0’) and worked on ACER decisions related to CACM and the European balancing platforms. In December 2022, she joined the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna as Electricity Market Expert. Her new tasks include the assistance to Contracting Parties during the transposition and implementation of the Energy Community acquis, monitoring their progress and facilitating the market integration of the Contracting Parties into the European internal energy market.

Ms. Amazo has nine years of experience in clean energy policies and markets. She is an expert in policy and regulatory frameworks for the promotion, financing, and market and system integration of renewables, including auction design and implementation. She has led a wide range of assignments for governments, international organizations, and investors. These include the design and implementation of renewable energy auctions in more than ten countries in Eurasia, Asia, and Africa for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); regional cooperation on renewable energy in ASEAN for the GIZ; an assessment of policy and commercial viability of hydrogen pipelines for system operators in Europe; and market and regulatory assessments of renewable energy in Europe and distributed generation in Mexico. Before joining Tetra Tech, Ms. Amazo was managing consultant at Guidehouse, an external consultant to the GIZ, and a research assistant at the Berlin Social Science Centre (WZB). She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin and is a Green Energy Finance Specialist from the Renewables Academy (RENAC).

Dr Susanne Rompel is currently Head of EU Affairs at E.ON. She has extensive experience in European energy policy and the energy sector. Prior to her current role Dr Rompel was Vice President of Political Affairs for the entire E.ON group. Before this, she led the EU Representative offices of Innogy and RWE in Brussels. Prior to that, she headed Strategic Planning at RWE, where she was responsible for the Group’s strategy development. She also served as a member of the Supervisory Boards for RWE Supply & Trading and RWE GBS. Early in her career, Susanne Rompel gained experience in the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission. She holds a Master’s Degree in European Politics and Administration from the College of Europe in Bruges and a PhD in EU Energy Policy from Heidelberg University. Prior to this, she studied Politics, Law and French in Heidelberg and Aix-en-Provence.

Head of Vienna Office of EPEX SPOT

Since 2013 Arnold is a Head of Vienna Office of EPEX SPOT, the European Power Exchange headquartered in Paris being the marketplace for short-term power trading in 13 European countries.  He is part of the public & regulatory affairs team and particularly in charge of representing EPEX in Austria, Luxemburg, Poland, CEE/SEE and at EU level.  Before, he worked in the energy sector for ten years as legal counsel, compliance manager and head of the respective staff units. He is a frequent lecturer on energy law and economics at various universities in Austria and Liechtenstein. Also, he is a contributor and speaker at numerous conferences in Europe, China and India.

Associate Professor at Comenius University in Bratislava

Matúš is Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at Comenius University in Bratislava. His main research interests include energy security in the EU and the role of perception within EU decision-making mechanisms. He is the author of External Energy Security in the European Union (Routledge, 2019) and has published articles in Nature Energy, Energy, Energy Policy, Geopolitics, Journal of Popular Culture, Comparative European Politics, Asia Europe Journal, etc. He has undertaken study and research trips to Norway (2006), Finland (2009), Great Britain (2011), Austria (2012), was a post-doctoral fellow at University of Alberta, Canada (2015-2016) and was a visiting professor at Carleton University, Canada (2018).

Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Deputy Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine. Head of the educational and analytical Centre of Excellence in Government Relations (GR) at the Kyiv School of Economics. As Deputy Minister of the Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine (2017 – 2019), Nataliya coordinated projects aimed at harmonisation of Ukrainian energy legislation with EU legislation and maintained liaison with international financial organisations and other stakeholders. From 2017 to 2020, Ms Boyko was a Member state representative in the Committee on Sustainable Energy of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). In 2011, Ms Boyko graduated from the Faculty of Law of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv with a master’s degree in law with honors. Nataliya studied at the Faculty of Law of the Humboldt University of Berlin on an Erasmus scholarship in the program “German and EU Law” and at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan – IEEJ/Japan International Cooperation Agency – JICA on “Energy Policy B” Program.

Mirko is an experienced project manager, environmental activist and independent policy analyst. After fifteen years of work with civil society, public authorities and international organisations, Mirko gained advanced management, training and presentation skills. He is a policy analyst and researcher dedicated to democratisation and citizens’ engagement in evidence-based policy debate. His area of interest is the Aarhus Convention, Environmental Impact Assessment, EU environmental, climate and energy policy, and adoption and implementation of EU environmental standards in Serbia. He published and edited relevant publications on environmental and energy governance, public participation, democracy and good governance.

Silke has 20 years' experience of working in the energy sector, advising clients in relation to renewable power and climate change issues internationally.  She has advised on offshore wind, solar and other renewable technologies in multiple jurisdictions.

Andrius has been practising energy law for over 17 years. Before joining the largest pan-Baltic law firm Sorainen in May 2022, for 2 years he ran a boutique consultancy – Šimkus Energy Consulting – with active technical assistance projects in Ukraine, Georgia, Albania, and Lithuania. Before that, Andrius spent 5 years as a Gas Expert and Energy Lawyer at the Energy Community Secretariat. He also worked as a General Counsel at LITGRID – the electricity TSO of Lithuania, member of the Board of Directors at Nord Pool Holding, in-house lawyer and external counsel representing major energy stakeholders in the Baltics, Scandinavia, Poland, and Southeast Europe. His legal and energy policy practice covers, amongst others, electricity, natural gas (including LNG), renewables, and nuclear energy. Andrius has a unique expertise in energy legislative matters being an author or co-author of over 200 legal acts regulating energy relations in 17 European jurisdictions. Andrius is also an invited lecturer at Kyiv School of Energy Policy.

Mr O'Connor is an Irish-qualified Barrister with over 15 years’ experience in EU law. He obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in law from University College Dublin and University of London International Programmes, respectively. After working for a several International law firms in Brussels and the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg, Mr O'Connor has been working for the past 5 years for the Directorate General for Competition (European Commission) as a Case Handler in Brussels, specializing in State Aid in the field of Energy and Environment.

Anna Butenko is an experienced energy lawyer, combining gas and electricity sector expertise with a strong academic background. In addition to her duties as Legal Advisor System Operations at ENTSO-E, Anna is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School.

Marie-Therese joined the Energy Community in 2016 as an Energy Lawyer, mainly dealing with issues of competition and State aid law, dispute settlement cases, assistance to national competition and State aid authorities and training activities. Her previous professional experience consists of different legal positions as legal associate, consultant and legal clerk. Ms. Richter-Kuhnert holds a Master’s (2008) and a PhD degree (2011) from the Faculty of Law, University of Vienna where she was also Assistant Professor in the period 2009-2011. She has also published several legal articles.

Renewable Energy Expert in the Energy Community Secretariat, Austria

Founder & CEO, The International Sustainable Finance Centre, Prague

Linda Zeilina is the Founder & CEO of the International Sustainable Finance Centre (ISFC), a think tank focusing on a range of sustainable finance topics, where she oversees the work on sustainable investing and inclusive economies. She is a Fellow at the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) in London, and an advisory board member of the Romanian Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (RoSIF). Until very recently, Linda was a Policy Leader Fellow at the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance. Over the years, Linda has run consulting projects for large asset managers, pension funds and European investment funds. Previously, Linda was Director at RE-DEFINE, a boutique consultancy and think tank in London, and a Think Visegrad Fellow at the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy. Linda is an alumna of the University of Glasgow, McGill University and the London School of Economics.

Summer School Coordinator, Energy Community Secretariat, Austria

As an Oil Expert, Adrian joined the Energy Community Secretariat in May 2009. Before coming to the Energy Community Secretariat, he worked in the Oil and Gas Institute in Albania until 1994. In 1994, Mr Jasimi joined the UK oil and gas company Premier Oil, as project manager for ten years. In 2004, he started to work as an oil advisor and director of the cabinet to the Minister of Energy and Industry of Albania. In 2005, he was reappointed Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy in Albania until April 2009. Mr Jasimi is involved in many negotiations in oil and gas contracts. His university background is as a physicist.

The objective of this Energy Debate day is to allow all participants master what they have learned during the course through a debate. There will be 4 statements and for each statement there will be two teams of advocates supporting or disagreeing with the statement. The participants will be required to take a certain position, even something they do not personally believe thus putting the participant in some cases in a not-so-comfortable situation. However, that is what makes the debate more interesting and afterwards, the participants will be also evaluated for their ability to defend a case.

Summer School Coordinator, Energy Community Secretariat, Austria

As an Oil Expert, Adrian joined the Energy Community Secretariat in May 2009. Before coming to the Energy Community Secretariat, he worked in the Oil and Gas Institute in Albania until 1994. In 1994, Mr Jasimi joined the UK oil and gas company Premier Oil, as project manager for ten years. In 2004, he started to work as an oil advisor and director of the cabinet to the Minister of Energy and Industry of Albania. In 2005, he was reappointed Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy in Albania until April 2009. Mr Jasimi is involved in many negotiations in oil and gas contracts. His university background is as a physicist.

Energy journalist lecturer

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer studied the European Union in Salzburg, Austria, and International Relations in Rome, Italy, before becoming Brussels-based EURACTIV's energy and environment correspondent in Berlin. In his work, he focusses on covering Germany's continued energy transition as well as the EU's fledgling hydrogen boom.

09.30 – 10.15

Climate change and the energy transition: a story for everyone

10.15 – 11.15

What’s driving change? The scientific, economic, and social cases for decarbonization

12.45 – 13.30

Journalism in the climate and energy space: a working life

13.30 – 13.45

Coffee Break

13.45 – 15.15

Decarbonisation for 1.5°C – what does that entail?

15.15 – 16.15

Disinformation and how not to fall for it

16.15 – 16.30

Coffee Break

16.30 – 17.30

Storytelling on climate change and the energy transition: data, investigations, photo essays, social media

17.30 – 17.45

Conclusions