Belgrade, Serbia – The joint Norway/UNOPS - Austria Multi-Country Office - ‘Knowledge for Reform Action in the Western Balkans’ program kicked off a series of Technical Support Assignments designed to support the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia by continuation of already started reforms in the energy sector marking another significant step towards a secure and sustainable energy future for the country.

The program will focus on supporting Serbia's alignment with the EU acquis in the field of energy and its closer integration with the trans-european energy networks. The support aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals and prioritizes capacity building to empower Serbian institutions with the expertise needed.

Strong Collaboration for EU Alignment and Beyond

Opening the discussion, Serbia’s Deputy Minister (Assistant) of Mining and Energy, Mrs. Jovana Joksimovic said: “We as a country and as a Government have made impressive progress when it comes to the energy sector in particular and we are certain that together, we’ll accelerate reforms in joint work with and  support of the expertise from the respective program through  transfer of know-how, effective collaboration and communication . This program provides specialized and dedicated  support for the Ministry of Mining and Energy, and we thank the joint Norway/UNOPS program and UNOPS for their prompt and efficient assistance.”

Building Sustainable Expertise and Knowledge Transfer

The Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Mrs. Hanne Meldgaard, joined the kick-off meeting alongside Serbian officials and said: “We are thrilled to see the program gaining momentum. The strong local support underlines this initiative's importance. It is not just our program; it belongs to Serbia. We are eager to see how Serbia leverages this opportunity to ensure lasting impact beyond the program's duration.”

Jochen Penker, Chief Technical Advisor of UNOPS AUMCO, emphasized the program's focus on knowledge transfer: “Together, we are building sustainable energy expertise in Serbia. UNOPS Austria, with Norwegian support, works closely with the Serbian government and the Ministry of Mining and Energy, supporting its ambitious national reforms and EU accession process as an independent and neutral partner and advisor.

Present at the meeting, the program's experts team presented detailed plans across crucial areas, including horizontal support on the EU energy and trans-european network chapters, power sector reforms, energy infrastructure development, renewable energy sources and regional energy cooperation.

Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Energy Future

Moving forward, the joint Norway/UNOPS program will prioritize capacity building and knowledge transfer to support Serbia's energy reform goals to the benefit of its citizens.