Renewable Energy Governance in Serbia – Stuck between Europeanization and Domestic Politics

Through the process of European integration Serbia has started transposing the EU energy policy framework, including renewables. The Treaty establishing the Energy Community from 2005 brings together the EU and countries from the South East Europe and Black Sea region. Serbia is party to the the Energy Community Treaty which grants de facto membership of the EU in the field of energy. The Europeanisation of the energy sector brings significant attractions and disincentives while reforms pose a number of governance challenges. Through the Energy Community Serbia’s national renewables target for 2020 is set at 27 % of gross final consumption of energy. In 2014 Serbia achieved a 23.1 % share of energy from renewable sources. The development and implementation of the renewable energy policy in Serbia is monitored and evaluated by the European Commission. In its the latest progress report it is stated that Serbia’s law on energy is in line with the renewable energy Directive but further by-laws are needed for full implementation. At the same time, there are no major investment projects in the renewable energy sector and the prospect of meeting the target is bleak. This paper seeks to map the renewable energy governance in Serbia and identify the main challenges at the decision making and implementation level for the uptake of renewables. The paper will be based on desk research, survey and interviews with main actors from the political, administrative and civil society arena. The paper will contribute to the research in the area of attractions and disincentives of Europeanisation, renewable energy policy challenges and implementation.