Security Concerns for the Energy Transition in the Balkans

EU policies regarding the transition to a fully integrated European zero-carbon energy system face a dual challenge. They need to be designed on a central level for all the European Union but then have to be applied taking into consideration the regional characteristics of the areas they involve. The regional system of South-Eastern Europe faces an additional challenge since it involves both EU member states and non-EU countries in the Western Balkans. SE Europe and in particular the Western Balkans are sensitive subsystems facing various political, social, economic, and security issues that constitute the transition to a zero-carbon future a difficult and challenging task. Trapped in a unique combination of hydro and coal-fueled power generation, the Western Balkan countries have to cooperate and compete with the more-balanced energy mix of the EU member states in the region. Furthermore, the extensive penetration of Russian and Chinese energy companies and interests in the region raise security concerns regarding the energy-related power competition between major international actors in the subsystem of SE Europe. This chapter analyzes the current situation regarding the energy mix and energy networks and systems in SE Europe, and examines the relationship between energy security and national security on the path to a zero-carbon future for the region. Can EU’s policies for the transition to a cleaner and sustainable energy future support the region’s need for enhanced energy security and – more importantly – the need for internal political and economic stability and security? What are the challenges for the Western Balkans in transitioning from an energy system dominated by coal-fueled power production to a fully implemented RES-based energy mix? Are European energy policies and EU’s regulatory tools able to effectively promote the energy transition in a region with conflicting energy-related strategic interest between major international actors like the EU, the USA, Russia, and China? The current study examines the relationship between energy security and energy transition in the EU and then focuses on the mechanisms that can effectively lead to the enhancement of SE Europe’s energy security through the energy transition process. Through this analysis, key regulatory tools and energy projects are analyzed in order to identify the pathways for a secure and effective transition towards a sustainable zero-carbon future for South-Eastern Europe.