Serbia is preparing to introduce carbon pricing. This was announced by Jovana Joksimovich, Assistant Minister of Mining and Energy for International Cooperation and European Integration, Balkan Green Energy News writes.
According to her, the authorities are preparing a comprehensive carbon pricing analysis for all products that will be affected by the European CBAM. In addition, the Ministry conducted an assessment of the impact of EU regulation on the country's electric power industry.
She recalled that the EC had adopted alternative carbon pricing options for the contracting parties to the Energy Community, including carbon taxes and a fixed-price emissions trading system before joining the European Union.
At the same time, Serbia is concerned about the discrepancy between the two CO2 emission coefficients established by the European Commission: one directly for electricity, the other for electricity used in the production of products subject to CBAM (for calculating indirect emissions).
According to Jokimovic, the economic consequences of the implementation of the mechanism require careful consideration, especially in terms of its potentially disproportionate impact on the Western Balkans.
There are also concerns that the introduction of CBAM could disrupt current efforts to integrate the electricity market.
Earlier, the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) called on the authorities to protect Serbia's energy-intensive industries from the influence of CBAM. They warned that the mechanism would threaten jobs and businesses in this sector.
