JET in WB (Just Energy Transition in Western Balkans)

  • Area: Regional Policy, Energy and Environment
  • Donor: Agence française de développement (AFD)
  • Duration: April 2026 – March 2029
  • Partners: Institut Jacques Delors (IJD) (Lead)
The JETinWB project aims to contribute to a just, inclusive and democratic energy transition in the Western Balkans, aligned with the EU accession process. It addresses the dual challenge faced by the region: aligning with EU enlargement requirements while decarbonising their economies amid energy pressures and growing climate impacts. The project combines policy analysis of the energy transition with citizen engagement and civil society capacity building, ensuring that EU fundamental values, the rule of law, good governance and participatory democracy, are reflected in the way the energy transition is designed and implemented. The first phase focuses on three country case studies: the Drin basin in Albania (hydropower diversification and climate vulnerability), the Loznica lithium mining project in Serbia (social acceptance of critical raw materials extraction and quality of environmental impact assessments), and the planned closure of the Oslomej and Novaci thermal power plants in North Macedonia (energy affordability, competitiveness, and reskilling needs). Particular attention is paid to women, youth, minorities and other groups most exposed to the social and economic effects of the transition.

Specific objectives:

1. Improve evidence-based knowledge on the just transition in the Western Balkans, particularly the links between the energy transition, democratic governance and EU enlargement.

2. Empower civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens to actively participate in and influence public debate and decision-making on the energy transition and its implications for EU accession.

3. Shape the political discourse on a just energy transition through targeted advocacy directed at decision-makers and opinion leaders at national and EU level.

Expected outputs: in-depth comparative analysis of the just energy transition in the three target countries; a network of at least 30 trained CSOs engaged in citizen participation on energy and EU integration issues; at least 180 citizens directly involved in citizen consultations and 72 young people engaged through the MladiRini platform; project conclusions and recommendations integrated into national energy and climate policy documents (NECPs) and EU accession dialogues.

Contact person: Jovana Knežević, jovana.knezevic@cep.org.rs

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