Skopje, 1 June 2022 (MIA) – Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi met Wednesday with the Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Artur Lorkowski. Talks focused on the energy crisis and the reforms that the country undertakes in the area of energy. Deputy PM Bytyqi pointed out that a national energy and climate plan is to be passed at a government session on Wednesday. In addition, the Ministry of Economy in about two weeks time will submit to the Government amendments to the Law on Energy, so that they can be then forwarded to the Parliament, the Deputy PM’s office said in a press release. The Director of the Energy Community Secretariat said the European Commission is working on setting targets for renewable energy, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions by 2030 for the Energy Community member states, in line with the decarbonization plan adopted by the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community in 2021. The main priority of the Energy Community at the moment, Lorkowski added, is to establish and put in operation a regional electricity market as one of key solutions to ensure stable electricity supply to the entire Balkan region and contribute to more stable electricity prices and better planning of the use of energy capacities and interconnectors. Deputy PM Bytyqi stressed that given developments over the past two years, it is becoming increasingly clear that achieving the targets set by the Paris Agreement in terms of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources is a challenge for all countries, but North Macedonia remains committed to this agenda. In addition, Bytyqi briefed Lorkowski on activities undertaken thus far in North Macedonia in terms of its participation in the construction of the Alexandroupolis terminal, construction of gas plant, as well as the interconnector with Greece that will guarantee in the medium-term diversification of gas supply sources. Bytyqi pointed out that the interconnector will be built using state-of-the-art technology for hydrogen transport, which is considered a fuel of the future.