Advancing Renewable Energy, Strengthening Environmental Law, and Shaping Climate Narratives

During his presentation, Professor Lorenc Gordani from the Faculty of Law in Tirana provided an in-depth overview of Albania’s renewable energy sector and presented strategic investments in renewable energy, focusing on expanding solar capacity and enhancing market structures for regional integration.

Mirko Popović and Jovan Rajić emphasized the use of strategic litigation as a crucial tool for driving Serbia’s coal phase-out, introducing the case against Public Electricity Company of Serbia which RERI initiated for exceeding sulphur dioxide emission limits, pushing for compliance with EU environmental directives to protect public health and accelerate the energy transition. Regina Stoilova, a lawyer working with ZaZemiata, presented the case related to the TPP Maritsa Iztok 2 which challenged Bulgaria’s derogations for sulphur dioxide emissions under EU industrial emissions law, using strategic litigation before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

In the next panel, environmental expert Alexandra Bujaroska discussed the challenges in implementing Energy Community environmental acquis, focusing on the need for improved environmental impact assessment procedures, and presented policy guidelines aimed at improving the assessment and permit-granting process for energy projects in the region. 

Journalists Stefan Veselinović and Dragana Prica Kovačević, and Professor Darko Nadić from the Faculty of Political Science University of Belgrade, discussed current practices in media coverage of environmental and climate topics in Serbia, underlying the importance of accurate and objective coverage and expert involvement to respond to the growing public interest and demands for environmental reporting.

Highlights:

• Regional cooperation contributes to a more stable and interconnected energy market, enhancing both security and market flexibility, while strategic partnership with international organizations and foreign investors also play a role in achieving these goals. 
• Strategic litigation serves as a powerful tool for enforcing compliance with EU environmental standards, driving the coal phase-out, protecting public health, and holding national authorities accountable for addressing pollution and upholding environmental law.
• Effective implementation of the EU environmental standards requires stronger legal frameworks, improved expertise and capacities for environmental impact assessments, and enhanced stakeholder engagement to ensure sustainable energy projects and accountable environmental governance.
• Environmental media reporting requires a shift toward a more accurate, scientifically grounded coverage, fostering cooperation of media, expert community and civil society, aimed at improving public understanding, citizens’ engagement and support in environmental topics.