GIZ Open Regional Fund for South East Europe – Energy Efficiency (ORF-EE)
Although energy is a highly valued commodity worldwide, it is often wasted in South East Europe. This has negative economic, social and environmental consequences. At the same time, the countries of South East Europe recognize the increasing importance of energy and its relevance to their national sustainability. Each of these countries is working toward EU accession. In this context, they have adopted the goals of the European energy and climate protection policies. South East European countries share a multitude of cultural and structural characteristics, with vast potential in regional networks for strengthening the exchange of joint development and know-how.
GIZ (German development cooperation) and its Open Regional Fund – Energy Efficiency (ORF-EE) supports regional cooperation among stakeholders who are capable of contributing to reform processes that target the implementation of national energy efficiency goals in their countries.
The GIZ ORF-EE supports the national ministries responsible for energy issues, which are working together in the Energy Efficiency Task Force of the Energy Community in monitoring their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs). For detailed information see section Monitoring Verification Platform (MVP).
The initiative of the Network of Schools for Political Studies in South East Europe towards a public and political dialogue about sustainable energies has been directly supported by ORF-EE. This has helped strengthen political will for reform processes in Montenegro and Serbia, where, in 2012, for the first time parliamentary hearings for parliamentary committees addressing energy efficiency issues were held in both countries. Political and public debates are gaining strength. For detailed information see Section Public Dialogue Initiative (PDI).
The GIZ ORF-EE promotes the Network of Energy Efficient Capital Cities in South East Europe, whose members are the cities of Zagreb, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Skopje, and Tirana (with support from the German “role-model” city of Freiburg). All partner cities have obligated themselves to the energy and climate change objectives of the European Covenant of Mayors. In April 2012, the mayors of all partner cities signed an agreement in Sarajevo that more closely regulates their cooperation. For detailed information section na Network of energy efficient Capital Cities (NEECC).