Minister Šahmanović’s CBAM Initiative Reaches the European Parliament

The initiative launched by Montenegro’s Minister of Energy and Mining, Admir Šahmanović, and subsequently supported by the energy ministers of the Western Balkan countries, has now gained a further institutional framework at the European Union level. As announced by the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Montenegro, proposals concerning the application of the CBAM regulation to the electricity sector have been translated into formal amendments to the European Parliament and have entered the further procedural review within the EU legislative process.

According to the Ministry, the initiative represents a joint proposal by the Western Balkan countries to European institutions in the field of energy, launched with the aim of ensuring that the specificities of the region’s countries—which are simultaneously undergoing energy transition and EU accession processes—are taken into account when applying the CBAM mechanism.

The proposed amendments have already been considered by the competent committees of the European Parliament and are currently under review by the European Union member states. As stated by the Ministry, they are also expected to be discussed during the September session of the European Parliament.

The initiative was launched with the goal of ensuring a fairer and more sustainable application of the CBAM mechanism for the Western Balkan countries. The statement emphasizes that the manner in which this mechanism is applied could have consequences for energy security, economic competitiveness, investments, and the development of new renewable energy capacity in the region.

– This is proof that the voice of the Western Balkans can be heard in Brussels when we act in unity, with clear arguments and concrete proposals. I am proud that the initiative we launched has been recognized as a relevant contribution to the European debate and that it has gained the support of my fellow ministers from across the region. It shows that we share a common vision of the energy future and that we are ready to work together to find solutions for the challenges ahead – said Minister Šahmanović.

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He stressed that the initiative’s goal is not to deviate from European climate and energy policies, but rather to create a fair and sustainable framework that will enable candidate countries to successfully carry out their energy transition without jeopardizing the stability of their power systems or economic development.

– CBAM must be an instrument that encourages decarbonization, not an obstacle to investment and development. The Western Balkan countries are already making significant efforts to align their policies with European standards, which is why it is important that the transition be fair, realistic, and developmentally sustainable. That is precisely the essence of our initiative – Šahmanović emphasized.

The Ministry noted that the application of the CBAM mechanism to electricity, without taking into account the specificities of the Western Balkan countries, could represent a significant financial burden for power companies in the region. This could slow down new investments in renewable energy sources, hinder the energy transition, and negatively affect economic competitiveness. For this reason, Minister of Energy and Mining Admir Šahmanović proposed amendments to this measure, with colleagues from the region supporting the initiative and jointly advocating for a solution that would enable decarbonization to continue, but in a fair and sustainable manner.

In the coming weeks, intensive communication with European institutions and member states is expected, given that the forthcoming phase of the legislative process will be of key importance for the final adoption of the proposed amendments.

The Ministry of Energy and Mining, together with regional partners, will continue to actively advocate for the interests of the citizens and economy of the Western Balkans, confident that the European energy transition can only succeed if it is both ambitious and fair.

Energy Portal