North Macedonia is intensifying its efforts to achieve full integration into the European Union’s electricity market, leveraging the expertise of the Greek energy regulator. This collaboration aims to facilitate a faster alignment with EU energy standards.
The partnership involves a cooperation framework that connects North Macedonia’s energy regulatory body, RKE, with Greece’s RAAEY. Through a series of technical workshops and advisory sessions, the Greek regulator is providing essential guidance on the institutional and legal modifications required for seamless integration into the European energy landscape.
In light of a newly adopted Energy Law, RKE has established multidisciplinary teams comprising engineers, economists, and legal experts. These teams are responsible for drafting secondary legislation designed to align domestic regulations with EU laws. This harmonization is crucial for linking North Macedonia’s national electricity market to regional platforms and ultimately to the larger EU market. Insights from Greek representatives regarding their own regulatory milestones have underscored the significance of transparency and stakeholder collaboration during this process.
This strategic partnership builds upon a Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2022 between the two regulatory authorities. This agreement formalized existing informal collaborations and initiated a systematic transfer of knowledge across various sectors, including energy, water management, and waste management.
Officials from both nations view this arrangement as a pivotal move towards enhancing regional cooperation within the Balkans. The initiative is not limited to electricity market integration; it also anticipates extending into the regulation of natural gas and petroleum products. Experts suggest that achieving deeper regulatory alignment could bolster supply security, enhance cross-border system coordination, and facilitate the modernization of public utilities. Moreover, aligning with EU standards is considered integral to North Macedonia’s broader accession strategy, linking necessary market reforms with its long-term objectives for European integration.
