The power systems of the Western Balkans are the most polluting in Europe. Their transformation towards renewables has begun to take shape. Yet, the pandemic, together with the war in Ukraine, have made this endeavour more complex. The conviction that domestic lignite is vital for security of supply has resurged given higher commodity prices and inflation.
The Western Balkans have committed to fully decarbonising their economies by 2050, enshrined in the 2020 Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda and the recent Decarbonisation Roadmap for the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community. By June 2023, Contracting Parties must submit draft National Energy and Climate Plans.