With the aim of creating an integrated EU energy market, the European Commission has planned to identify and implement a number of large energy infrastructure projects (commonly known as projects of common interest – PCIs), which are viewed as essential for completing the European internal energy market and for reaching the EU’s energy policy objectives of affordable, secure and sustainable energy.
Serbia needs to align its national legislation with the EU acquis in this area, in particular Regulation 347/2013, the purpose of which is to streamline the procedure of granting permits and facilitate investments in the energy infrastructure, in order to achieve energy and environmental policy objectives of the Energy Community.
From November 2016 to January 2017, the Legal Support for Negotiations project assisted the Members of the Negotiating Group 21, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Mining and Energy and other relevant institutions in further improvement of relevant national legislation to comply with the Regulation.
Having analysed the existing legislation of the Republic of Serbia in the area of energy infrastructure and the extent of its compliance with Regulation 347/2013 requirements, the expert Nikolaos Pitsas drafted proposals on tangible solutions for harmonising the Serbian legislation with all matters addressed in the Regulation.
