11th BES Seminar Tirana

As Europe navigates its transition to a sustainable energy future, natural gas remains a key component—serving both as a transition fuel and as a foundation of energy security.

The Balkan Energy School (BES) is playing a leading role in equipping energy regulators across the Balkan region to meet this challenge through the ambitious project “EU natural gas markets: fundamentals, regulatory frameworks, and challenges for market integration and decarbonization.”

Running throughout 2025 and into 2026, the project is designed to equip regulators with essential knowledge on the functioning of gas markets, the EU’s regulatory framework , and strategies for decarbonization and regional integration.

Financed by the CEI Fund at the EBRD, contributed by Italy, and framed within the Knowledge Exchange Programme (KEP), the initiative aims to strengthen alignment with EU energy policies and legislative frameworks.

The project emerges from a context marked by geopolitical instability, price volatility, and urgent climate goals. Gas markets—closely interconnected with electricity markets and increasingly integrated with hydrogen production—demand advanced regulatory oversight to ensure competitiveness, security, and environmental sustainability.

Recognizing the dual role of gas as both a transitional fuel and a key player in industrial competitiveness, the BES initiative aims to foster a deep understanding of supply-demand dynamics, infrastructure planning, LNG and storage security mechanisms, and the role of renewable gases in the energy transition.

The project is structured around four full-day seminars:

• Gas market functioning (Q2 2025) – Covering EU market dynamics, supply-demand mechanics, and market actors.
• Infrastructure regulation (Q3 2025) – Focusing on network codes, transmission tariffs, and investment strategies.
• Decarbonization of the gas sector (Q2 2026) – Exploring policy tools, hydrogen integration, and infrastructure transformation.
• Security of supply (Q3 2026) – Examining LNG strategies, emergency response frameworks, and future resilience challenges.

These sessions will include expert contributions from national regulatory agencies, industry leaders, and academic institutions. Preparatory materials and active roundtable discussions will enhance participant engagement and networking.

The expected outcomes are significant: a stronger grasp of EU regulatory practices, improved regional cooperation, enhanced capacity for national policy design, and a smoother path to EU accession for non-member states.

By promoting knowledge transfer and harmonization of regulations, BES supports the broader integration of Balkan countries into the EU energy market.

A notable event within this initiative took place on April 8, 2025, in Tirana, Albania. The seminar featured distinguished speakers from the International Energy Agency (IEA), ACER, Energy Traders Europe, Shell and ICIS, Independent Commodity Intelligence offering valuable insights into wholesale gas trading, LNG developments, and EU regulatory frameworks.

The session emphasized the importance of market-based mechanisms and flexible infrastructure in achieving both security and sustainability.

Since its foundation in 2022, the Balkan Energy School has become a central platform for regulatory education and policy dialogue in Southeast Europe.

Building on the success of past KEP projects in the Balkan Region and broader market integration efforts, this new project marks a further step in strengthening the region’s energy governance.