Parliamentary Plenum underlines importance of Green Deal for the Energy Community

Today’s Energy Community Parliamentary Plenum was dedicated to debating the implications of the European Green Deal for the Energy Community and the process of adoption of National Energy and Climate Plans. The meeting, opened by the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Mr Aleksa Bečić, on behalf of the Energy Community Presidency in Office, and by the Chairman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament, Mr Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, brought together Members of Parliaments of the Energy Community Contracting Parties and the European Parliament.

The opening statements and the presentation of the Secretariat’s Director, Mr Janez Kopač, set the scene for the exchange of views on future legislative initiatives in the Energy Community under the banner of the Green Deal which will transform the organisation into an energy and climate community. Members of Parliaments underlined their commitment to reforming the energy sectors under the framework of the Energy Community and outlined ongoing and future reform initiatives in their countries. 

Director Kopač briefed Members of Parliaments on the process of adopting National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) in the Energy Community Contracting Parties. It was underlined that given the significance of the NECPs in terms of fundamentally transforming the energy sectors, it is absolutely essential that Parliaments have a key role in the NECP’s preparation and public consultations, which should encompass other relevant stakeholders at large. Members of Parliament were also encouraged to organize consultations with neighbouring countries in order to improve cross-border energy and climate cooperation.