Western Balkan Berlin Process

Berlin Process: setting the agenda

With an aim to demonstrate 'its support for the prospect of European integration for the countries of the Western Balkans', the German Government initiated the Berlin Process in 2014. An idea for organization of the Conference of Western Balkan States came in light of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. 

The 2014 Berlin Summit spelled out a four year reform framework aiming to support the Western Balkan to meet the conditions for EU accession. In order to implement the agreed agenda, the countries decided to meet each year in the same format. This resulted in summits in Vienna (2015), Paris (2016), Trieste (2017),  London (2018),  Poznań (2019), Sofia (2020) and Berlin (2022). The most recent Western Balkan Summit took place in Tirana in October 2023.  

Whilst the original Berlin Declaration grouped the reform work under three titles, the agenda was broadened in the years come. A special focus set by chairmanship apart, 'connectivity agenda' has continued to be an integral part of the agendas. Reflecting the new geopolitical reality, energy security and green transition now dominate the energy related agendas (Berlin Summit in 2022).

• Regional cooperation and the solution of bilateral disputes
• Rule of Law and Good Governance
• Economic Prosperity and Connectivity
• Market integration – Trade Facilitation, Mobility and Joint Growth Initiatives
• Migration and the fight against terrorism and radicalization
• Youth, Education, Science and Research

After each summit the chair publishes a declaration, reporting on the achieved progress and new actions in the pipeline.
  

Creating a regional electricity market

At the 2015 Vienna Summit of the Western Balkan 6 Initiative, the WB6 Contracting Parties reasserted their commitment towards establishing a regional electricity market. They agreed to implement so-called “energy soft measures” that will remove existing legislative and regulatory barriers and enhance the institutional structures necessary for the functioning of this market in line with the Energy Community Treaty and relevant EU acquis. The 2016 Paris Summit re-emphasized the need for a closer cooperation on a regional level and integration of the markets of the Western Balkan 6 into the pan-European one.

In April 2016, this commitment was given a solid operating framework with the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU sets out the general principles of cooperation as well as concrete actions to develop the regional electricity market. With their signatures, the EU stakeholders recognised the importance of the initiative in terms of driving regional day-ahead market coupling between the Energy Community Contracting Parties and neighbouring EU Member States. Stakeholders from all EU Member States that neighbour the WB6 countries joined the initiative by signing the Memorandum of Understanding.

The Western Balkan countries committed to implement a priority list of so-called “energy soft measures”, at national and regional level, as key preconditions for the development of a truly integrated electricity market. The regional measures consist of

• establishing spot markets (power exchanges),
• a regional balancing market, and, 
• making the best use of the already existing Coordinated Auction Office in Southeast Europe (SEE CAO) for regional capacity allocation.

The national measures mainly focus on removing national obstacles to regional electricity market development by creating the appropriate market and regulatory framework.

The Vienna WB6 Summit tasked the Energy Community Secretariat to lead the development of the regional energy market and assist in the implementation of the measures. This resulted in a Grant Contract between the European Commission and the Energy Community Secretariat for provision of technical assistance to support the development of a regional energy market in the Western Balkans in June 2016.

Report on the implementation of Declaration on Energy Security and Green Transition in the Western Balkans

2022 Berlin Declaration on Energy Security and Green Transition in the Western Balkans

The Declaration on Energy Security and Green Transition in the Western Balkans, signed by WB6 leaders in Berlin on 3 November 2022, marks a pivotal moment in the region's pursuit of sustainable energy policies and more resilient energy sectors based on enhanced regional cooperation. It acknowledges the urgency of transforming economies and energy sectors to align with international commitments enshrined in the Paris Agreement, the Energy Community Treaty, and the European Green Deal.

Under the Declaration, the Energy Community Secretariat was assigned the responsibility of reporting on the implementation of these actions at the Berlin Process Summit 2023, scheduled for 16 October 2023 in Tirana. The Energy Community framework, aligned with the politically driven Berlin Process, is rooted in the principles of the European Union’s rules and policies including the European Green Deal. Further alignment with those are necessary to advance the green transition in the region and increase affordability, security of supply and resilience. The Declaration puts particular emphasis on using untapped potential of regional cooperation among the Contracting Parties in the Western Balkans to that effect.