The energy issue is a regional issue, and we want to be part of the solution, North Macedonia’s Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Naser Nuredini told a panel discussion at the 7th Delphi Economic Forum taking place April 6-9 in Greece, MIA’s Athens correspondent reports.
Nuredini stressed the need to find joint solutions, as well as the importance of joint investments with neighbors, mentioning as an example the interconnector between North Macedonia and Greece, and voicing hope that the country’s tender and investment procedure in terms of the Alexandroupoli port will begin in June.
As regards the energy crisis, Nuredini pointed out that the country is too dependent on one source and diversification is needed, adding that countries in the region, including North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, despite having their own policy they also need a regional energy strategy “to be protected if the same happens in the future.”
In addition to the energy issue, the Minister underlined that North Macedonia is also ready to be part of the solution regarding the green agenda. He added that even though it is a small country, it is committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and the green agenda, and it is ambitious with clear goals and strategies.
Nuredini noted that though the country is still waiting to start EU accession negotiations, the goal is to be part of the solution for achieving neutrality by 2050 as a member state. In a discussion with Director of the Greek Institute for Sustainable Development, Spyros Kouvelis, Minister Nuredini also addressed the issue of water management, pointing to Lake Prespa, which sees continuous drop in water level, as an example where cooperation between neighbors is needed, as it affects Greece, Albania and North Macedonia, adding that the “Prespa Agreement has opened the road to additional opportunities.”
Nuredini also tackled waste management, noting that cooperation is possible between the public and the private sector, and he discussed the issue of airpollution.
