On 8 June 2023, the Secretariat of the Initiative for coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mining and Energy of Serbia, hosted a workshop in Belgrade, Serbia, focusing on the topic of a just energy transition.

The workshop convened stakeholders from public institutions, international organisations, the energy sector, and civil society, fostering open dialogue.

Representatives from the Ministry of Mining and Energy of Serbia emphasised that the preparation of strategic national documents in the energy sector is underway, including the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). These documents will define Serbia's new energy policy, establish goals for renewable energy sources' participation in the energy mix, reduce harmful gas emissions, and enhance energy efficiency. 

The workshop featured three panel discussions covering the following topics: planning the energy transition in Serbia, examples of stakeholder engagement in the just transition process in Romania and Poland, and the development of renewable energies and energy communities.

Throughout the workshop, participants had the opportunity to engage in direct exchanges regarding progress, challenges, and pathways for a just transition in Serbia and to gain insights from transition experiences in the EU.