As Ambassador Schmid pointed out, the biggest challenge all countries are facing is how to provide a reliable and affordable power supply for economic and social development while ensuring a climate friendly energy production and use. Progress in the energy transition can be achieved only through close cooperation with the private sector.

The ambassador emphasized that Switzerland is supporting the energy transition process in Serbia through a number of projects aimed at improving energy management at the local level, increasing energy efficiency and fostering the use of renewable energy sources, worth a total of EUR 25 million. Switzerland intends to continue supporting energy transition in Serbia. For the new period of the Cooperation Programme, the Government of Switzerland has allocated another EUR 22 Mio in grants to accelerate the green energy transition with catalytic investments. This will allow Switzerland to continue building up capabilities in cities and municipalities and contributing to more conducive framework conditions in Serbia so that commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and regarding the EU Green Deal can be met.