Southeast European countries still rely heavily on coal. Most plants are old and extremely polluting: the region is home to seven of the ten most polluting coal-fired power stations in Europe. Public health costs from air pollution from coal-fired power plants in the Western Balkans add up to 8.5 EUR billion per year. Because such air pollution is transboundary, most of these damages are actually borne by EU citizens.
Despite this, countries of Southeastern Europe plan to add about 6 GW of new coal power capacity by 2030, largely financed by Chinese investors. At the same time, most of these countries strive to join the EU between 2020 and 2030. This poses a great opportunity and responsibility for the EU to help steer the energy transition to 100% sustainable renewable energy in this region. The European Commission, European banks as well as Member States provide significant development funding to the region. The messages they send and the way this money is spent test the EU’s climate and energy leadership in its closest neighbourhood.
The Energy Union framework provides a number of opportunities for the EU to enable a just transition to 100% sustainable renewable energy in the region. This shift can be sped up by advancing the enlargement process and the ongoing reform of the Energy Community Treaty on energy-related cooperation with the region, as well as by improving countries’ nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement.
The region offers a huge untapped potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency development. In fact, the energy efficiency potential is the largest in Europe. Efforts have to be made to ensure implementation, since significant financing is available but often not fully used.
All these opportunities must not be missed if the EU and these South Eastern countries want to ensure the well-being and prosperity of European citizens.Together with partners, CAN Europe works to support anti-coal campaigners accross Southeast Europe. We advocate for a just transition to 100% sustainable energy by 2050, and ambitious climate action in the region.
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Useful South East Europe ResourcesHere you find a range of useful external South East Europe climate and energy resources. Read more |
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The Energy CommunityThe Energy Community is an intergovernmental organization dealing with energy policy in Southeast Europe and the Black Sea region. Read More |
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All countries of Southeast Europe are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and have signed up to the Paris Agreement. Becuase they all seek to join the EU well before 2030, their climate pledges should be in line with the EU’s target - currently set to reduce emissions by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Read More |
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CAN Europe supports regional NGOs working on promoting the solutions for South East Europe’s energy future: energy efficiency and 100% sustainable renewables. We are part of South East Europe Sustainable Energy Partnership (SEE SEP), a group of 18 NGOs who developed an energy model for 7 countries of Southeast Euope and the region as a whole. Read More |
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In 2003, at the Thessaloniki Summit, the European leaders committed to help the integration of the remaining Southeast European states into the EU. The promised EU membership is highly conditional – it is only granted if countries meet all economic and political criteria, and align their policies with the EU, including the ones on energy, climate and environment. Read More |
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CAN Europe's interactive Coal Map of Europe gives an overview of the role of coal in our electricity system. Read More |
