Serbia should follow guidelines of EU energy policy

BELGRADE - Creating a sustainable and safe energy supply system at affordable prices is among the guidelines of the EU Energy Policy by 2020, which Serbia, as an EU candidate country, should follow, participants of a conference titled "European Energy Policy- Challenges for Serbia within the EU Accession Process" noted on Thursday.

German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm said that energy regulations are very important for Serbia during its EU membership talks, underscoring that Germany is Serbia's partner in that sector.

Germany invested, through its development bank, over EUR 1 billion in the energy sector in Serbia in the last 10 years, the ambassador said.

Wilhelm mentioned the project aimed at revamping Hydro Power Plant Bajina Basta and the energy efficiency project, especially when it comes to heating for households.

German companies are very active in the Serbian energy sector, the ambassador noted, mentioning Siemens and its generators, Knauf in the field of insulation.

Hans van Steen, head of the International Relations and Enlargement Unit at the European Commission's Directorate General for Energy, said that the EU has presented an energy package by 2020, but it has already been ascertained that only 16 percent of the stated goals will be possible to achieve by then, so the deadline will probably be 2030.

The problem lies in the fact that energy prices in Europe are high, with an upward tendency, because import tariffs on gas and oil are high, so solutions are being sought in the diversification of sources of supply. According to Steen, gas prices have reached a critical level- they are three or four times higher than in the United States.

He believes that a part of the...