This report is the result of a collaborative effort by the OECD and the economies under review. It was carried out by the OECD Development Centre, and benefited from excellent collaboration with the Governments in the Western Balkans.
The review was produced under the guidance of Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Director of the OECD Development Centre. It was supervised by Jan Rieländer, Head of the Resilient and Sustainable Development Division, led by Juan R. de Laiglesia, Senior Economist and co-ordinated by Gorazd Režonja, Economist.
The report was prepared by Jan Rieländer, Juan R. de Laiglesia, Gorazd Režonja, Agnes Stenström, Tatiana Lluent and Kerstin Schopohl. Jesse Grabowski, Lukas Grahl and Camilo Saldarriaga developed the macroeconomic models of the economies of the region used in the report and undertook the related macroeconomic modelling work. Vita Volgemut provided excellent statistical, research and drafting support. Myriam Andrieux provided administrative support.
The data collection and fact-finding work in the region was carried out with the participation of a network of local experts and researchers. The Inventory of Energy Subsidies and Support Measures of the Western Balkans was developed in collaboration with Sokol Spahiu and Ani Spahiu from Energy Drive (Albania), Vedad Suljić and Hamid Mehinović from the Center for Economic, Technological and Environmental Development (CETEOR), Kasim Tatić from the School of Economics and Business in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ardian Berisha, Gent Hajdari and Elena Qehaja from Optima Energy Consulting (Kosovo and North Macedonia), and Jovan Rajić and Hristina Vojvodić from the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI) (Montenegro and Serbia). The micro-simulation work was carried out by Esmeralda Shehaj from the University of Tirana (Albania), Ardiana Gashi from the University of Pristina (Kosovo), Marjan Petreski from the University American College in Skopje (North Macedonia), Jelena Žarković Rakić from the University of Belgrade and Marko Vladisavljević from the Institute of Economic Sciences (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia). Focus groups on the gender-energy nexus in the region were carried out in collaboration with Blerjana Bino, Ilir Brasha and Orkidea Xhaferaj from the Science & Innovation for Development Center (Albania), Azra Bećirović and Haris Abaspahić from the Centar za Politike i Upravljanje (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Luljeta Demolli, Dafina Prekazi, Etleva Zeneli, Alba Ajdarevikj, and Fleta Cetaj from the Kosovar Gender Studies Center (Kosovo), Tania Ivanova, Ilinka Iljoska, Filip Dimchevski, Gordan Popov and Ana Bojcevska Mitrevska from Reactor (North Macedonia), Igor Kilibarda, Milika Mirkovic, Jadranka Kaluđerović, Danica Vukašinović and Bojana Popović from the Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognoses (Montenegro), and Tanja Jakobi, Dejana Pavlović, Dragan Stanojević, Valentina Vukmirović, Zlata Vuksanović-Macura and Branka Anđelković from the Public Policy Research Center (Serbia).
A special thanks goes to the project’s focal points and their teams in Government institutions. Eridana Çano, General Director, State Agency of Strategic Programming and Assistance Coordination, was the main focal point in Albania and was supported by Arban Morina, Sidorela Qato and Kelvin Strazimiri. Admir Softić, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the main focal point in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was supported by Branka Knežević, Head of Department for Primary Energy and Policy. Vedat Sagonjeva, Director of the Strategic Planning Office, Office of the Prime Minister, was the main focal point in Kosovo and was supported by Venhar Nushi. Miroslav Labudovikj, Deputy Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources and Elena Ivanovska, Cabinet Officer for Monitoring Strategic Priorities of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, were the main focal points in North Macedonia. Nina Vukotić, Adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister, Milena Mijović, Acting Head of the Office for Sustainable Development in the General Secretariat of the Government of Montenegro, and Aneta Kankaraš, previous Head of the Office for Sustainable Development in the General Secretariat of the Government of Montenegro, were the main focal points in Montenegro and were supported by Igor Pejović and Andrija Djukanović. Aleksandar Zlatković, Special Advisor to the Minister of Mining and Energy, and Biljana Ramić, Head of unit for strategic energy planning, Ministry of Mining and Energy, were the main focal points in Serbia. The OECD extends its sincere gratitude to the statistical agencies of the Western Balkans for their invaluable support and collaboration and for providing access to microdata from Household Budget Surveys and EU-SILC for micro-simulation work: the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) of Albania, the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHAS), the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS), the Statistical Office of Montenegro (MONSTAT), the State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia.
The report greatly benefited from the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), in particular the Western Balkans and Türkiye Unit, headed by Maria Melbing and including Niklas Wu Hansson, Titta Lassila, Lollo Darin, Linn Jansson, and Emilie Göransson; as well as the Embassies of Sweden in the region, including H.E. Ambassador Niklas Ström, Erik Illes and Ermelinda Xhaja (Albania), H.E. Ambassador Helena Lagerlöf and Eva Gibson Smedberg and Aiša Bijedić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), H.E. Ambassador Jonas Westerlund, Henrik Riby and Fatos Mulla (Kosovo), H.E. AmbassadorAmi Larsson Jain, Mikael Atterhög, Ylva Johnson and Ivan Petrovski (North Macedonia), H.E. Ambassador Charlotte Sammelin, Anne-Charlotte Malm, Paul Collins and Snezana Vojčić (Serbia). Both Sida and Embassies of Sweden supported the OECD Development Centre in the organisation of workshops and missions and provided valuable inputs to the work.
The team is grateful for insightful comments and inputs by Setsuko Saya (OECD Development Centre), Marzena Kisielewska and Umur Gokce (OECD Global Relations and Co-operation Directorate), Brian Motherway and Carlos Fernandez Alvarez (International Energy Agency), Gregor Virant, Klas Klaas and Tunyan Bagrat (OECD SIGMA), Krzysztof Michalak, Nelly Petkova, Sarah Miet and Harry Smythe (OECD Environment Directorate), Grégoire Garsous and Dylan Bourny (OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate), Assia Elgouacem (OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration), Damir Miljević (Center for Sustainable Energy Transition - ReSET), Denis Žiško (Aarhus Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Sara Sultan (OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs).
Delegates of Western Balkan economies, Members of the OECD Development Centre and other experts gathered during the informal meeting of the Mutual Learning Group for Multi-dimensional Country Reviews held in June 2024 to review the draft regional report and share development and policy experiences. The report benefited from valuable comments and examples by lead reviewers and discussants. François-Xavier Bellocq, Energy Task Team Leader, Agence Française de Développement provided comments on the report. The experts and policy makers from the Western Balkans region that commented on the report include Ermelinda Durmishi, previous Director of Strategic Programming at the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Assistance Coordination, Albania, Rudina Banushi, Director at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Albania, Branka Knežević, Head of Department for Primary Energy and Policy, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Venhar Nushi, Senior Policy Planning Officer, Office of Prime Minister, Kosovo, Biljana Ivanović, previous State Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mining, Dimitar Vanchov, Head of Unit, Cabinet of the Deputy President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, North Macedonia, Aleksandar Zlatković, Adviser to the Minister of Mining and Energy, Serbia and H. E. Ami Larsson Jain, Ambassador of Sweden to North Macedonia. Ambassadors and experts that provided international perspectives to the work include H. E. Ambassador Amélie de Montchalin, previous Permanent Representative of France to the OECD and Chair of the Governing Board of Development Centre, H. E. Ambassador George Pagoulatos, Permanent Representative of Greece to the OECD and Chair of the Friends of South East Europe, H. E. Ambassador Kerem Alkin, Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the OECD and Chair of the Friends of Middle East and North Africa, H. E. Ambassador Helena Sångeland, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OECD, Brian Motherway, Head of Energy Efficiency and Inclusive Transitions Office, International Energy Agency, and Gregor Virant, Head of Programme, Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (OECD SIGMA).
Special thanks go to chair of the Mutual Learning Group for Multi-dimensional Country Reviews, H. E. Ambassador Peter Ješovnik, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the OECD, as well as Anzee Hassanali, Development Analyst, Chief Economist Team, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, member of the Bureau of the MLG-MDCR.
The team is grateful to the representatives from ministries, agencies, private sector and non-governmental organisations that took part in the peer-learning workshops, as well as for their insightful contributions and comments.
In Albania: Ardjana Shehi (AA+ Partners), Irena Sinani (ALPEX), Margerita Topalli (Bank of Albania), Anila, Ilir Ciko (Development expert), Sokol Spahiu and Ani Spahiu (Energy Drive), Erjon Luci (Energy reform expert), Romir Pajenga (Energy Regulatory Authority), Krenar Bujupi (Expertise France), Gentiana Gica (FTL), Besjna Hysa (Gender Alliance for Development Centre), Gjergj Buxhuku (Konfindustria), Bledar Taushani and Stavri Lako (Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation), Ceno Klosi, Besjan Kadiu and Erjona Serjani (Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure), Brikena Nastini Jazxhi (Ministry of Finance), Nertila Topulli (Ministry of Health and Social Protection), Beliola Vasjari (OSSH), Artur Kurti (OST), Lorenc Malkaj (Polytechnic University of Tirana), Eridana Çano, Arban Morina and Frida Malaj (State Agency of Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination), Rigela Gegprifti (Statkraft), Esmeralda Shehaj (University of Tirana), Arduen Karagjozi and Rovena Metoja (Water Resources Management Agency).
In Bosnia and Herzegovina: Branislava Crnčević Čulić (Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegova), Nihad Harabaš (Center for Sustainable Energy Transition - ReSET), Vedad Suljić and Nejra Biber (Center for Economic, Technological and Environmental Development), Edin Zametica (State Electricity Regulatory Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Miladin Trbić (EFT-Mine and Thermal Power Plant Stanari LLC), Enis Krečinić (Federal Hydrometeorological Institute), Nermina Husić, Darko Pranjić and Senad Zekić (Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry), Darko Basić (Federal Ministry of Trade), Jovana Đurić Vrhovac (Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alija Nurkić and Admir Aljić (City of Živinice), Anes Kazagić and Zinaida Dimitrijević (Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine JSC Sarajevo), Miroslav Nikolić (Elektroprivreda HZHB JSC), Ognjen Marković (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Sarajevo), Boris Lubarda (Ministry of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska), Admir Softić, Branka Knežević, Nada Mlinar, Milan Papaz, Aida Haračić and Sanja Kapetina (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ozren Laganin and Leonida Hadžimuratović (Ministry of Spatial Planning of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Adem Mostarlić (Municipality of Banovići), Boško Borojević (Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska), Senad Aganović (Regulatory Commission for Energy in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Melina Kalem (Regional Education and Information Centre) and Nedžad Alić (Faculty of Mining, Geology, and Civil Engineering, University of Tuzla).
In Kosovo: Agron Demi (Balkan Green Foundation), Vedat Sagonjeva and Venhar Nushi (Cabinet of the Prime Minister), Xhevat Lushi (Connecting Natural Values and People), Lulzim Hakaj (Eco Z), Kujtim Hoxha and Edmond Nulleshi (Public Utility KEK Sh.a), Rudina Heroi (KESCO), Selatin Kaçaniku (Konsumatori), Zana Bajrami Rama and Rinor Berishf (Kosovo Coorporate Sustainability and Responsibility Network), Driton Hetemi and Petrit Ahmeti (Kosovo Energy Efficiency fund), Evetar Zeqiri and Arbnora Hashani (KOSTT), Florina Duli Sefaj (MCA Kosovo), Leonita Shabani, Besim Veselaj, Lejla Hasani, Lulzim Korenica and Miftar Nika (Ministry of Economy), Rexhep Vasolli and Lindita Toci (Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers), Fisnik Bajrami (Swisscontact), and Festa Kusari (independent expert).
In Montenegro: Budimka Golubović (Business Women Association of Montenegro), Nina Vukotić (Cabinet of the Prime Minister), Sanja Elezović (CBIT), Ranko Vukmirović (Chamber of Economy Montenegro), Dušan Janjušević (Coal mine Pljevlja), Srdjan Keković (Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro), Dušan Vućić (COTEE), Boris Ostojić and Stevan Živković (Distribution System Operator CEDIS), Irena Bašanović and Ana Kijanović (Transmission System Operator CGES), Vasilije Savović and Rajko Jaredić (Public Utility EPCG), Predrag Damjanović (Energy and Water Regulatory Agency of Montenegro), Stojan Terzić (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management), Milena Marković (Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development), Miloš Rajković and Nikola Vujošević (Ministry of Energy), Nataša Marković (Municipality Pljevlja), Milija Čabarkapa (NVO Eko tim), Igor Pejović and Milena Mijović (Office for Sustainable Development), Slavica Striković (Women Action), Maja Raicevic (Women’s Rights Center), and Nebojša Jablan (independent expert).
In North Macedonia: Biljana Dukovska (Anti-poverty platform), Elena Blazevska (Association of Business Women), Nevena Smilevska (Bankwatch), Marijana Lonchar Velkova (Consumers Organisation of Macedonia), Ivana Petrisková (CRPM), Kristina Kuzeska (Economic Chamber of North Macedonia), Elena Nikolovska and Zarko Koneski (Eko-svest), Elena Ackoska (Transmission System Operator MEPSO), Anastasija Stefanovska Angelovski (Energy and Water Services Regulatory Commission), Liljana Bogoevska Mircevski (ESM), Blagoj Stojevski, Irina Ilijeska Lefterovska and Aneta Petrovska- Rusomaroski (EVN AD Skopje), Ilija Vasiljeski (Fiscal Council), Mitko Ognenoski (MEMO), Miroslav Labudovskj and Elena Ivanovska (Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources in North Macedonia), Besa Tateshi (Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning), Keti Ilievska and Olivera Markoska Ivanovski (Ministry of Finance), Vesna Kapracovska (Ministry of Finance), Johannes Heidecker (Office of the Prime Minister of North Macedonia), Filip Ivanovski (PAKOMAK DOO), Tania Ivanova (Reactor – Research in Action), and Blashko Lazarevski (Wind Park Bogoslovec).
In Serbia: Ognjan Pantić (Belgrade Open School), Antonela Solujić (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia), Jovana Ilić (Coordination Body for Gender Equality), Dunja Grujić (Distribution System Operator EDS), Nebojsa Despotović (Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia), Sanja Nikolić (Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia), Tomislav Peruničić and Ljiljana Mitrušić (Public Utility EPS), Nebojša Marković and Svetlana Subotić (coal mine JP PEU Resavica), Milan Zdravković (JP Srbijagas), Aleksandar Zlatković, Biljana Ramić, Maja Klarić, Elena Secerov, Stevan Veljović and Svetlana Ristić (Ministry of Mining and Energy), Ana Ilić (National Alliance for Local Economic Development NALED), Veljko Ozegović (New Energy Solutions), Ivan Pigalev (NIS), Darjana Macanović (RERI), Tanja Jakobi (research in public policy), Svetlana Budimčević (Serbian Association of Employers), Dragana Jovanović Arijas (Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of the Republic of Serbia), Miodrag Gluščević (Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities), Nikola Martić and Milovan Stojić (The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia), Boban Pavlović (University of Belgrade).
The peer-learning workshops were designed with the collaboration of Raoul Blindenbacher, (Blindenbacher Borer Consulting Ltd.). Agnes Stenström (OECD Development Centre) led the organisation of the workshops.
Finally, the team acknowledges Marilyn Smith for editing the manuscript. Aida Buendía, Delphine Grandrieux and Elizabeth Nash from the OECD Development Centre’s Communications and Publications Unit edited, laid out and produced the report.