North Macedonia Moves Closer to European Green Electricity Certification System

North Macedonia’s National Electricity Market Operator, MEMO, has officially joined the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB), marking an important step toward deeper integration with the European framework for guarantees of origin and cross-border renewable electricity trade.

The decision was confirmed during the General Assembly of the Association of Issuing Bodies, where MEMO became a full member of the Brussels-based European energy certification organization. The move comes as the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources and the Energy Community Secretariat continue efforts to advance the mutual recognition of guarantees of origin between the European Union and Energy Community countries.

Guarantees of origin are electronic certificates proving that a specific quantity of electricity has been generated from renewable energy sources. They are increasingly important for transparent energy markets, renewable energy producers, suppliers and companies seeking to demonstrate the use of green electricity in line with ESG and decarbonisation standards.

MEMO introduced its electronic registry for guarantees of origin in April last year, in cooperation with energy certificate company Grexel and in line with European Energy Certificate System rules and AIB standards. Since then, North Macedonia has issued around 500,000 guarantees of origin, with each certificate representing 1 MWh of electricity produced from renewable sources.

According to MEMO Chief Executive Officer Zoran Gjorgjievski, AIB membership enables the Macedonian guarantees of origin system to implement the procedures required for future accession to the European Energy Certificate System. This will allow the secure, transparent and internationally recognized issuance and trading of green electricity certificates.

He emphasized that further integration of North Macedonia’s electricity market with the European energy market is essential, as it creates new opportunities for renewable energy producers, suppliers and businesses while strengthening trust, competitiveness and investment attractiveness in the country’s renewable energy sector.

Denko Rafajlovski, Head of MEMO’s Renewable Energy Support Department, noted that guarantees of origin play a key role in promoting renewable energy and giving consumers greater transparency and choice over the source of the electricity they use. Through the AIB Hub, national registries are connected, enabling the efficient cross-border transfer of green certificates between countries.

MEMO became an observer member of AIB last year as a first step toward full membership. Its accession now represents a significant milestone in the development of a modern, transparent and European-aligned electricity market in North Macedonia.

Cross-border trade in guarantees of origin will become possible once national legislation and technical requirements are fully harmonized with European Union standards.

December 3, 2025

by AEA in News

Kosovo* becomes full member of Association of Issuing Bodies

Kosovo* joined the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) as a full member at the last meeting of the organization’s general assembly. However, the Western Balkans and other Energy Community contracting parties require full alignment with the European Union’s regulations to enable cross-border trading in renewable electricity.

The Energy Regulatory Office (ERO or ZRrE) of Kosovo* said its request to become a full member of the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) has been approved. It is now part of the European platform for guarantees of origin, the update reads.

It increases the transparency and credibility of renewable energy certification, enabling more efficient cross-border trade and paving the way for new investments in the renewable energy sector, ERO pointed out. The membership also confirms Kosovo’s* commitment to the energy transition path and harmonization with the European Union’s acquis communautaire, according to the announcement.

ERO added that AIB approved the application at the latest meeting of its general assembly, in Lisbon, Portugal. By joining the organization, Kosovo* has adopted its European Energy Certificate System (EECS), ensuring that guarantees of origin issued in Kosovo* are recognized throughout Europe, the regulatory body stressed.

LuxDev assisted ERO in AIB bid

Chair of ERO’s Board Ymer Fejzullahu and Lindita Daija from LuxDev Kosovo, a branch of the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, attended the event. The membership strengthens institutional capacities, increases transparency in renewable energy certification and positions Kosovo* as a reliable partner in the European energy market, Fejzullahu asserted. LuxDev supported the initiative.

In other news from Southeastern Europe, the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) of Romania obtained the status of an observer in AIB, both in the electricity and gas schemes. Albania and Bulgaria became members and applied to join the electricity scheme group last year, after which North Macedonia became an observer in the electricity segment.

Mutual recognition of GOs with EU possible in 2026

One guarantee of origin or GO certifies that 1 MWh was generated from renewable sources. Nearly all issuing bodies in the Western Balkans have established national electronic registries for issuing GOs.

However, cross-border trade in renewable energy will be enabled only when they become fully aligned with EU legislation and requirements.

Energy Community Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski recently said in an interview with Balkan Green Energy News that he hoped for a decision on mutual recognition of GOs next year.

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* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

December 2, 2025

by AEA in News

3rd Conference on Advancing Renewable Investments – guarantees of origin could drive Europe’s green energy integration

As CBAM nears implementation, the Ljubljana conference highlighted market tools and partnerships to accelerate clean energy integration with the European Union, the Energy Community Secretariat said. It pointed out that as more renewables capacity is connected to the grid, storage and flexibility solutions would become increasingly vital to enable the sector’s continued growth and integration.

The rollout of national electronic registries for guarantees of origin was recognized as essential to verifying the low-carbon value of regional electricity exports and advancing market-based integration with the EU.

Ministers, regulators, investors, and private sector representatives from across South East and Eastern Europe gathered in Ljubljana for the 3rd Conference on Advancing Renewable Investments, hosted by the Energy Community Secretariat and the Government of Slovenia, to boost renewable investment and advance the region’s shift toward clean, interconnected energy systems.

“Energy Community contracting parties are advancing accelerated integration with the EU’s electricity market – a process that, thanks to the Energy Community framework, with market coupling nearing completion, can be achieved even ahead of full EU membership. Expanding renewables is central to this effort, enabling countries to align with EU policy targets and speed up decarbonisation,” the update reads.

Integration with the EU’s electricity market can be achieved ahead of full membership

The results are tangible, according to the Energy Community Secretariat’s 2025 CBAM Readiness Tracker. Renewable energy excluding large hydropower has increased by more than 50% since 2020 – reaching 5.1 GW, fuelled largely by governmental support schemes.

While it is a notable success, continued progress will depend on the contracting parties’ ability to build on this momentum and mobilize efforts beyond government support to fully meet the ambitious 2030 targets set out in their national energy and climate plans (NECPs) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As more renewables capacity is connected to the grid, storage and flexibility solutions will become increasingly vital to enable the sector’s continued growth and integration, the organizers said.

Uncertanties emerging ahead of CBAM charge introduction

At the same time, as the definitive phase of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) begins on January 1, uncertainties are emerging for renewable energy investors, the secretariat stressed.

Discussions at the conference highlighted stakeholders’ expectations for the European Commission to clarify CBAM implementation rules, while continuing to rely on the secretariat to raise concerns about potential risks to renewable energy investments arising from unintended CBAM impacts.

As a no-regret pathway, participants discussed measures to accelerate the shift toward market-driven renewable investments, strengthening the sector’s credibility and long-term financial stability. A matchmaking dialogue brought together renewables producers and corporate buyers, reflecting growing private-sector interest in long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to boost investment and market confidence.

Lorkowski: GOs turn transparency into trust, trust into investment

Finally, the rollout of national electronic registries for guarantees of origin (GOs) was recognized as essential to verifying the low-carbon value of regional electricity exports and advancing market-based integration with the EU.

“Guarantees of origin are the compass guiding Energy Community markets toward the EU’s clean energy future. They turn transparency into trust, and trust into investment, enabling regional producers to access new markets, attract financing, and build confidence in the energy transition,” said Energy Community Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski.

Ongoing efforts to establish a mutual recognition framework with the EU are underway, in close coordination with the European Commission and the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB), to enable cross-border trade in renewable electricity.

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