The Law on Energy Efficiency, as of 2010, has legaly regulated the energy efficiency field in Montenegro for the first time., which was significantly improved by the Law on Efficient Use of Energy (Official gazette of Montenegro 57/2014).
Undertaken international commitments on the basis of Montenegrin membership in the Energy Community and the accession procedure tof the European Union require constant monitoring and harmonization of the national legislation with the Acqis Communitaire. Amendments to the key directives for this area at the EU level take place every 2-3 years and it is required to take the amendmends appropriately into considerationn at the national level.Thus, the Ministry of Economy has prepared amendments to the Law on Efficient Use of Energy, adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro on 4 April2019.. Aforementioned amendments improve the existing legal framework in the field of energy efficiency, primarily through:
- Harmonization with the requirement of the basic EU Directive on energy efficiency (Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency). Obligation of Montenegro is to transpose it based on the membership in the Energy Community, regarding the following:
- introduction of the requirement related to the establishment of centralized reporting on implementation of energy efficiency measures and achieved energy savings from all entities recognized by this law and
- preparation of a special study for energy efficiency improvement in buildings in Montenegro;
- Harmonization with the Directive 2006/123/EU on services in the internal market regarding conducting energy audits by foreign persons. Implementation of introduced provisions is envisaged after the accession of Montenegro to the EU;
- More precise definition of legal requirements, procedures, rights and obligations of public sector entities, in particular regarding the establishment of energy management system (energy management), planning and implementation of energy efficiency measures and reporting on achieved results;
- Establishing the inspection for energy efficiency in order to implement better the legal provisions and to control meeting of requirements by entities recognized by this law.
- Improvement of the legal framework for better implementation of existing and adoption of future bylaws, in particular in terms of regulating the issue regarding energy efficiency labelling and eco-design of energy related products.
Consolidated text of the Law on Efficient Use of Energy (Official gazzete of Montenegro 57/14, 3/15, 25/19) can be downloaded on the following link.