The Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on implementing pilot projects in Energy Efficiency between the EU and (9) nine BiH municipalities was held in the EU Delegation in Sarajevo on Monday, 12 December 2011.
The Memorandum was signed by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to BiH and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, and Mayors of Municipalities Brcko, Jajce, Neum, Prnjavor, Tesanj, Trebinje, Visegrad, Zenica and Zvornik.
The MoU marks the beginning of the cooperation on the implementation of the project Support to BiH to meet the requirements of the Energy Community Treaty with special focus on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DELTER), which aims to increase energy efficiency in public buildings and to assist BiH to comply with its commitments under the Energy Community Treaty. It consists of four components: 1. Demonstration projects for energy efficiency/renewable energy, 2. Institutional and technical capacity building, 3. Public Education and 4. Legal Framework.
The EU funds this project from the Instrument for Pre–Accession Assistance (IPA 2007 and 2008 budget) in the amount of 2,500,000.00 EUR. Additionally 400.000 EUR is provided from the IPA 2008 budget.
The nine projects will receive supplies for improved energy efficiency – windows and doors, insulation materials, boilers, thermostatic valves and lighting fixtures that will be installed in schools and public administration buildings of the selected municipalities. The selection procedure of the beneficiary municipalities was transparent and with the involvement of the state and the entities authorities.
Ambassador Sorensen emphasised that reducing energy consumption and eliminating energy wastage are among main goals of the EU. Energy efficiency is one of the most cost effective ways to enhance security of energy supply and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Ambassador also stressed that the energy efficiency is Europe biggest energy resource. BiH has the added value of being the main net exporter of the region. Energy sector is one with the best possibilities for economic growth, he said and added that in 2010 EU started providing support to Energy Efficiency projects in BiH.
