On 8 November Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović, met with the director of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Maciej Popowski. Popowski congratulated Minister Đedović on her appointment and assured her of the EU’s support for dealing with disturbances in the energy markets.

“The EU is committed to supporting Serbia in the long-term improvement of energy security, including reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels. The European Commission is in the process of preparing a significant support package for the energy sector of the Western Balkans, which will include targeted budget support of €165 million for Serbia to support vulnerable households and businesses, and an additional €500 million for the region for investments in energy infrastructure,” said Popowski.

At the meeting, which was also attended by the EU Ambassador to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, Popowski called on the Ministry to use the European Commission’s latest report on Serbia as a guideline for further reforms, and emphasised the importance of Serbia’s proactive participation in the EU energy platform.