Regional Exchange March 2026

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ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Western Balkans is entering a pivotal stage in its regional energy transformation. Following two years of intensive cooperation, knowledge exchange, and joint learning, Phase II of the “Decarbonisation of the Electricity Sector in the Western Balkans” project, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by GIZ, this new 3-year project marks a renewed commitment to accelerating the region’s energy transition, under the umbrella of the Regional Climate Partnership between Germany and the Western Balkans.

Under the theme “Building on Progress: Advancing the Energy Transition Pathway of the Western Balkans” this Kick-off Conference will bring together grid operators, regulators, ministries, international organisations, experts, and civil society partners from across the region. It offers a unique moment to reflect on progress, deepen cooperation, and collectively shape the way forward. Invited partners will be able to contribute and be part of:

A shared starting point for Phase II: A concise walkthrough of Phase I’s key results will help participants establish a common understanding of progress to date and jointly shape priorities for the next phase across regulatory, technological, and participation areas.

• A collaborative regional space: The conference offers a platform for open exchange, allowing stakeholders to connect, share experiences, compare challenges, and explore opportunities for coordinated action in Phase II.
• Shaping regional priorities: Through interactive discussions and expert input, participants will help identify and validate the priority areas that will guide regional cooperation over the next three years.
• Forward-looking insights: Drawing on German and international experience, the conference will showcase innovative approaches, regulatory developments, and practical solutions that can support higher renewable integration in the Western Balkans.
• Moving the transition forward: Phase II builds on the work initiated together, now with stronger cooperation, clearer priorities, and concrete steps toward a cleaner and sustainable energy future for the Western Balkans.

Objectives of the conference

1. Introduce the scope of Phase II and provide a comprehensive walkthrough of the key results from Phase I
2. Create a space for regional electricity-sector stakeholders and other relevant partners to exchange and connect to regionally cooperate for energy transition challenges and opportunities
3. Set the foundation for Phase II by identifying shared regional priorities across regulatory, technological, and participation areas of the energy transition

AGENDA

Arrival Day - 24 March 2026

Time
19.00-21.00	Welcoming reception, networking & market of opportunities Dinner will be served from 19:00 to 20:00. The welcoming reception will take place at Hotel Balcony and will also include the participation of two private companies, from 20:00 to 21:00.

Day 1 Conference - 25 March 2026

Time
08:45 – 09:15	Registration of participants
09:15 – 10:30	Welcoming panel – Advancing the Region’s Energy Transition Pathway Nicolas Heger, Project Director, GIZ Davor Bajs, Electricity Infrastructure Expert, Energy Community Secretariat Milica Knezevic, Regional Project Coordinator, KfW Jan Sedlacek, Legal Advisor System Operations, ENTSOE
10:30 – 10:50	Building on Results: Transitioning from Phase I to Phase II Presentation by: Nicolas Heger, Project Director, GIZ Overview of Phase I achievements and milestones Strategic direction, workstreams, and implementation roadmap for Phase II
10:50 – 11:20	Coffee Break
11:20 – 11:50	“Renewable Energy Disputes and Investment Arbitration in the Western Balkans” – key expert input Armela Ramić, Attorney, Ramic Law
11:50 – 12:20	“CBAM Outlook for the Western Balkans Electricity Sector” – key expert input Rouven Stubbe, Energy and Climate Policy Advisor, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie
12:20 – 13:45	Lunch break
13:45 – 16:45	Co-Creating the Next Phase: Regional Pathways for Energy Transition Working sessions Coffee break will be served from 14:55 to 15:20 during the session.
16:45 – 17:00	Wrap up and closure of day II.
19:00 – 21:00	Dinner

Day 2 Conference - 26 March

Time
09:00 – 09:20	“Future of the grids in EU“- key expert input Goran Levačić, HOPS Croatian Transmission System Operator Plc.
09:20 – 10:20	Panel Discussion: Inclusive Prosumerism: Designing On-Grid Solutions that Work for Energy-Poor and Energy-Vulnerable Communities Ira Shefer, Manager Energy Systems, Renewable Grid Initiative   Aleksandar Macura, Co-founder, Programme Director, RES Foundation Ajla Cisija, Muncipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina Sebastian Jasim, Head of International Projects, German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE)
10:20 – 10:40	Coffee break
10:40 – 11:30	From Insights to Implementation: Defining Regional Action Areas Working sessions
11:30 – 11:40	Overview of the Tailored Support Call for Technical and Regulatory Partners Mario Jasic, Advisor, GIZ BiH
11:40 – 12:00	Wrap up and closure
12:00 – 13:00	Lunch and departure
19:00 – 21:00	Dinner for guests with a confirmed third-night stay.

World Café Rotation Matrices

Technical Working Group

A = Albania (7)

B = BiH (8)

C = Kosovo (6)

D = Montenegro (3)

E = North Macedonia (4)

F = Serbia (2)

Total 30

Participant	Country	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Name	Institution and Position
A1	Albania	EPT	T1T	T2T	Elgi Haxhiraj	OST
A2	Albania	EPT	T2T	T3T	Enedi Zerba	OST
A3	Albania	T1T	EPT	T2T	Ardvin Kraja	OSHEE
A4	Albania	T2T	EPT	T3T	Griselda Merkaj	OST, Head of Market Department
A5	Albania	T3T	T1T	EPT	Beliola Vasjari	OSSHE
A6	Albania	T1T	T3T	EPT	Klodiana Cabiri	OST, Head of Cabinet
A7	Albania	T2T	T1T	EPT	Ela Nikaj	OSHEE
B1	BiH	EPT	T1T	T3T	Milan Zeljković	MH Elektroprivrede Republike Srpske a.d Trebinje
B2	BiH	EPT	T2T	T1T	Miloš Parović	MH Elektroprivrede Republike Srpske a.d Trebinje
B3	BiH	EPT	T3T	T2T	Merim Džizić	Expert Advisor, NOSBiH
B4	BiH	T1T	EPT	T3T	Zoran Koprivica	System Planning Engineer, NOSBiH
B5	BiH	T2T	EPT	T1T	Almir Tuhcic	Elektroprivreda BiH
B6	BiH	T3T	EPT	T2T	Elvisa Becirovic	Elektroprivreda BiH
B7	BiH	T1T	T3T	EPT	Mijo Terkeš	EP HZHB Mostar, Head of Development
B8	BiH	T2T	T1T	EPT	Amir Avdagic	Elektroprenos BiH
C1	Kosovo	EPT	T3T	T1T	Alush Mexhuani	KEDS, System Operation Director
C2	Kosovo	EPT	T1T	T2T	Blerton Mustafa	KEDS, Technical Customer Care Director
C3	Kosovo	T2T	EPT	T1T	Avni Alidemaj	KEDS, COO
C4	Kosovo	T3T	EPT	T2T	Aulonë Fazliu	KOSTT, Network Development Engineer
C5	Kosovo	T1T	T2T	EPT	Astrite Neziri	KOSTT, Senior Engineer Specialist
C6	Kosovo	T2T	T3T	EPT	Arlinda Bujupi	KOSTT, Engineer (RES & PPAs)
D1	Montenegro	EPT	T1T	T3T	Boris Ostojic	CEDIS, Head of Investments
D2	Montenegro	T2T	EPT	T1T	Nina Damjanović	CGES
D3	Montenegro	T3T	T2T	EPT	Aleksandra Pupavac	CGES
E1	North Macedonia	EPT	T2T	T1T	Blagoj Stojevski	EVN, Head of Energy Policy
E2	North Macedonia	T1T	EPT	T3T	Viktor Dimitrievski	EVN, Energy Policy Consultant
E3	North Macedonia	T3T	EPT	T2T	Aleksandar Paunoski	MEPSO, Deputy General Director
E4	North Macedonia	T3T	T2T	EPT	Kliment Naumoski	MEPSO, Counsellor
F1	Serbia	EPT	T3T	T2T	Dragan Marin	EDS, Director of RER Sector
F2	Serbia	T1T	T2T	EPT	Dušan Vukotić	EDS, Senior Analyst

Table Distribution

EPT

Round 1: A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, D1, E1, F1

Round 2: A3, A4, B4, B5, B6, C3, C4, D2, E2, E3

Round 3: A5, A6, A7, B7, B8, C5, C6, D3, E4, F2

T1T

Round 1: A3, A6, B4, B7, C5, E2, F2

Round 2: A1, A5, A7, B1, B8, C2, D1

Round 3: B2, B5, C1, C3, D2, E1

T2T

Round 1: A4, A7, B5, B8, C3, C6, D2

Round 2: A2, B2, C5, D3, E1, E4, F2

Round 3: A1, A3, B3, B6, C2, C4, E3, F1

T3T

Round 1: A5, B6, C4, D3, E3, E4

Round 2: A6, B3, B7, C1, C6, F1

Round 3: A2, A4, B1, B4, D1, E

Regulatory Working Group

A = Albania (4)

B = BiH (9)

C = Kosovo (2)

D = Montenegro (4)

E = North Macedonia (4)

F = Serbia (2)

Total 25

Participant	Country	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Name	Institution and Position
A1	Albania	EPR	T1R	T2R	Igli Percuke	Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy
A2	Albania	T1R	EPR	T3R	Kristofor Shqau	Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy
A3	Albania	T2R	T1R	EPR	Agron Como	Energy Regulatory Entity
A4	Albania	T3R	T2R	EPR	Dritan Zekaj	Energy Regulatory Entity
B1	BiH	EPR	T1R	T2R	Almir Imamović	SERC, Head of Tariff & Market
B2	BiH	EPR	T2R	T3R	Nikola Dubajić	SERC, Head of Technical Affairs
B3	BiH	EPR	T3R	T1R	Ivica Drežnjak	FERK, Secretary
B4	BiH	T1R	EPR	T3R	Nada Milovčević	Ministry RS, Head of RES Dept
B5	BiH	T2R	EPR	T1R	Boris Lubarda	Ministry RS, Head of EE Dept
B6	BiH	T3R	EPR	T2R	Belma Selimotić	FMERI, Legal Advisor
B7	BiH	T1R	T3R	EPR	Sanjin Habul	FMERI, Advisor RES
B8	BiH	T2R	T1R	EPR	Eldar Hukić	FMERI, Assistant Minister
B9	BiH	T3R	T2R	EPR	Vera Vitomir	MOFTER, Policy Advisor
C1	Kosovo	EPR	T3R	T1R	Arberesha Isufi	MoE, Head of Strategy Division
C2	Kosovo	T2R	EPR	T3R	Miftar Nika	MoE, Head of RES Division
D1	Montenegro	EPR	T2R	T3R	Majda Mujević	MEIR, Director
D2	Montenegro	T3R	EPR	T1R	Kristina Mihailovic	Ministry of Energy
D3	Montenegro	T1R	T2R	EPR	Predrag Damjanović	REGAGEN, Senior Analyst
D4	Montenegro	T2R	T3R	EPR	Nikola Novaković	REGAGEN, Senior Analyst
E1	North Macedonia	EPR	T1R	T3R	Aleksandar Chebotarev	Regulatory Commission
E2	North Macedonia	T1R	EPR	T2R	Irfan Shaqiri	Regulatory Commission
E3	North Macedonia	T3R	EPR	T2R	Valentina Stardelova	Ministry of Energy
E4	North Macedonia	T2R	T1R	EPR	Marija Klopchevska	Ministry of Energy
F1	Serbia	EPR	T3R	T2R	Milica Vukovljak	AERS
F2	Serbia	T3R	EPR	T1R	Dragana Barjaktarević	AERS

Table Distribution

EPR

Round 1: A1, B1, B2, B3, C1, D1, E1, F1

Round 2: A2, B4, B5, B6, C2, D2, E2, E3, F2

Round 3: A3, A4, B7, B8, B9, D3, D4, E4

T1R

Round 1: A2, B4, B7, D3, E2

Round 2: A1, A3, B1, B8, E1, E4

Round 3: B3, B5, C1, D2, F2

T2R

Round 1: A3, B5, B8, C2, D4, E4

Round 2: A4, B2, B9, D1, D3

Round 3: A1, B1, B6, E2, E3, F1

T3R

Round 1: A4, B6, B9, D2, E3, F2

Round 2: B3, B7, C1, D4, F1

Round 3: A2, B2, B4, C2, D1, E1