H.E. Kristin Melsom, ambassador of Norway to Serbia

Serbia is advancing on its green energy agenda with ambitious reforms that are supported by Norwegian expertise and that balance environmental concerns and EU integration efforts

Serbia is working hard to enhance its energy production potential, and all existing plans and projects form part of a green agenda, says H.E. Kristin Melsom, Ambassador of Norway to Serbia. In that respect, the county has set some quite ambitious goals in the energy sector for the next decade, notes our interlocutor.

“When it comes to the reform process at EPS [electric utility power company Elektroprivreda Srbije], in which Norwegian experts participated more actively, I can say that I am proud that we were approached by the Serbian side and glad that we were perceived as a trusted and knowledgeable partner. As far as I know, this process is ongoing. This is a new concept for Serbia and changes take time. A lot of adjustments need to be made to completely transform EPS into an efficient state company that operates successfully under free market conditions. EPS definitely has the potential to become one of the most influential energy companies in the region,” says Ambassador Melsom.

When it comes to expertise, Norway has vast experience in hydro energy and, as of more recently, in new technologies and innovation. “The way we govern our state-owned energy companies proves successful, as they are among the top energy companies in Europe. That said, we should keep in mind that the biggest drivers to complement expertise are political will and access to resources,” notes our interlocutor.

“A common platform and close cooperation between all key players in the region, as well as making EU ETS funds available to Western Balkan countries, could be the magic formula to fast-track transformation of the energy sector across the entire region.”

You spoke recently to the Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly about critical mineral resources and Norway’s experience in this area. What are your main suggestions for the preserving of nature in this context?

— This is indeed a significant and complex issue for any country, not just Serbia. Whereas the green transition is both an imperative and our best growth strategy, it is not free of dilemmas and challenges. We also experience these concerns in Norway. Mining will always impact nature; the question is how to strike a balance between Europe’s need for critical minerals and the need to preserve our environment.

I am optimistic that the next crucial step – with the start of the new EU Commission’s term – will be the opening of Cluster 3 in Serbia’s EU accession negotiations

The process leading to a decision is important. We believe in an open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the decision-making process. It is important for the information provided to the public to be factual and correct, and communicated in a way that everyone can understand.

Serbia is at the very beginning when it comes to addressing wastewater treatment. How has Norway approached these tremendously important but costly solutions?

— Norway has many companies with innovative waste management solutions, but I would like to mention Cambi, the company that is present in Serbia. Cambi delivers innovative solutions that enable utilities to manage sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants and waste processing plants. This is an optimal solution for the wastewater treatment plants of larger cities. Many cities around the globe, including Brussels, London and Washington, use Cambi solutions to ease the management of sludge at wastewater treatment plants, rendering it cheaper and more sustainable. What distinguishes them from others is the so-called thermal hydrolysis process, or THP, which has the lowest carbon footprint of all sludge treatment methods. This process enables the extracting of up to 50% more biogases compared to conventional anaerobic digestion, while the sludge is also transformed into biosolids that can be used as fertiliser. This makes it a perfect circular economy process.

As Serbia progresses in its EU integration process, what do you consider as being the next critical frontier?

— It is clear that full EU membership remains a strategic objective for Serbia’s political leadership. We are witnessing some stagnation in the integration process across the entire region, which is partly due to the responsibilities of the candidate countries themselves, but also reflects the EU’s current appetite for enlargement. For Serbia, meeting the political criteria is the most crucial aspect of the process, as joining the EU requires stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities. While negotiations are also a technical issue, I’m optimistic that the next critical step – with the start of the new EU Commission’s term – will be the opening of Cluster 3 in Serbia’s accession negotiations.

How is Norwegian bilateral assistance supporting Serbia on its EU path?

— Although we are not an EU member state, we strongly support the EU membership aspirations of the Western Balkan countries. For more than 15 years, we have been assisting Serbia consistently in terms of capacity building for EU negotiations. Through numerous projects, we have supported most of the ministries within the Serbian government, ranging from the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of the Interior to the ministries of economy, justice and human rights. We are today continuing to provide support to various sectors included in EU negotiations. During this year and next, we are focused in particular on supporting the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry for European Integration.