EU regions and cities could help decarbonisation in the Western Balkans

European Commissioner Vrhelyi says EU municipalities and regions have role to play in encouraging the economic and energy transition in would-be member states.

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https://cor.europa.eu/en/news/Pages/decarbonisation-western-balkans.aspx

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Saturday, December 12, 2020

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Geography of Europe, Europe, Organizations, Confederations, European Union, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, Balkans, Foreign relations of the European Union, Eurosphere

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European Commissioner Vrhelyi says EU municipalities and regions have role to play in encouraging the economic and energy transition in would-be member states.
The European Union would like to enlist the support of regions and cities to help Western Balkan countries in their preparations for membership of the European Union and in developing relationships with other countries in the EU's neighbourhood.
He also said that the Commission is developing ideas for an Eastern Partnership Academy for Public Administration, again as proposed by the CoR.
Commissioner Vrhelyi said:"I believe European regions can play an important role in helping the Western Balkans to implement the Plan, for example by sharing the experience of coal and carbon-intensive regions in transition.
"North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo* and Bosnia-Herzegovina would, on joining the EU, be committed to contributing to the EU's goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050.
This would develop on a pilot project TAIEX Strategic support to local authorities that began in 2018 in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia.
Separately, the CoR has developed municipal and regional partnerships, matching requests from local and regional authorities in neighbouring countries with interest on the part of EU cities and regions.
It is important to continue working with local authorities to help improve their public service delivery capacities and foster stabilisation in the country.