Problems and perspectives of the European Green Deal with the focus on the SEE countries and Serbia

Zvezdanović Lobanova, Jelena and Lobanov, Mikhail (2023) Problems and perspectives of the European Green Deal with the focus on the SEE countries and Serbia. The Review of International Affairs, LXXIV (1188). pp. 51-77. ISSN 2955-9030

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Abstract

Global climate challenges increasingly determine the prospects for world economic development, which entails an increase in the importance of thegreentransitionagendaintheactivitiesofinternationalorganisations and national governments. An example of a developed and consistent action programme at the national and supranational levels is the European Green Deal (EGD). The EU member states adhere to an ambitious strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate neutrality, solving the problems of introducing eco-friendly technologies (including alternative energy), energy efficiency, the formation of a sustainable industry, and the transition to a circular economy. The EU member states and candidate countries from Southeastern Europe (SЕЕ) have to follow in the footsteps of the European climate policy and implementthe developed plansto reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the environment. The key hypothesis of thisstudyisthatthestatesoftheregion,withrareexceptions,lagbehind the average level of the EU in terms of the energy efficiency of their economies,theprevalenceofenergy-savingtechnologies,andtheusage of renewables. Despite the developed institutional framework, the progressofthegreentransitioninSerbia is very limited:thedynamicsof reducinggreenhousegasemissions(includingperGDP)isunsatisfactory, and the emissions intensity and energy intensity levels remain among the highest in the region. Using a comparative analysis method, we examinedthestructureofelectricitygenerationandtheplacerenewable sourcestake in thisstructure. We also analysed in detailthe differences between the countries of the region in a number of indicators: energy intensity level of primary energy, greenhouse gas emissions (including perGDP), and the volume of carbon dioxide emissionsin relation to the unit of electricity generated (emissions intensity). We conclude that institutionalmaturity,thesufficiencyoffinancialsupportfortheprojects, and the availability of economic incentives for green transition are the determining factorsfor achieving the goals ofthe EGDin SEE.

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