Using the EU Environmental Permitting Framework to Promote the Energy Transition in the Western Balkans – The Case of Kosovo

Kosovo's electricity generation is dominated by lignite-fired power plants, resulting in high greenhouse gas emissions and limited integration of renewable energy sources (RES). Despite national strategies aimed at increasing the share of RES and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), administrative, technical, and regulatory barriers hinder progress. In this context, aligning Kosovo's permitting framework with established EU environmental legislation offers a structured pathway to accelerate its energy transition. This paper presents key findings from a recent technical assistance project implemented for the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (MESPI), which produced a Permitting Support Manual for RES and BESS projects and a Supplementary Guidance Document. These tools identified context-specific barriers and proposed practical institutional and procedural reforms based on EU best practices. The study concludes that implementing standardized screening criteria, integrating spatial planning for RES and BESS, and streamlining administrative procedures are critical to advancing Kosovo's decarbonization efforts.