The two-day forum of the OSCE PA's South East Europe Delegations kicked off in Kastoria on 28 March 2025.KASTORIA (GREECE), 30 March 2025 – Approximately 20 parliamentarians gathered in Kastoria, Greece, from 27 to 30 March for the Third Inter-Parliamentary Forum, organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on South East Europe, Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus). Hosted by Angelos Syrigos and Maria Antoniou, members of the Greek Delegation to the OSCE PA, with support from the Hellenic Parliament, the forum served as a platform for lawmakers from South East Europe and beyond to engage in meaningful discussions and enhance collaboration on energy policy.
The event opened with remarks by Maria Antoniou, Member of the Greek Delegation to the OSCE PA; OSCE PA President Pia Kauma (Finland) and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella; Special Representative Kyriakos Hadjiyianni; and Angelos Syrigos, Head of the Greek Delegation to the OSCE PA. Contributions to the forum were made by key Greek energy officials, with OSCE PA Delegations from Italy, Montenegro, Romania, North Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Cyprus, and Greece participating in the forum.
“Through interaction and the exchange of experiences and best practices, we can develop strategies that enhance sustainability, social cohesion, and prosperity not only in our region but across Europe,” said Maria Antoniou in her opening remarks. “Strengthening policies for a clean and fair energy transition will contribute to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.”
In video messages, President Kauma and Secretary General Montella underscored the importance of political, economic, and security stability for the region’s prosperity, highlighting the widely shared goal of European Union membership for the Western Balkans.
“This forum provides valuable opportunities to exchange ideas and bring meaningful insights back to your countries,” said President Kauma. “I sincerely thank the Hellenic Parliament for hosting this inter-parliamentary forum and commend Vice-President Hadjiyianni for his outstanding work as Special Representative on South East Europe.”
Secretary General Montella highlighted the value of these forums, acknowledging the contributions in particular of Albania and Montenegro in organizing previous forums and praising Angelos Syrigos for hosting the event in Kastoria. “The topics chosen, tourism in Montenegro and energy in Greece, are crucial,” Montella said. “The personal friendships and connections you build on these occasions are invaluable, and that is the true spirit of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.”
Deputy Minister of the Interior for Macedonia and Thrace, Konstantinos Gioulekas, emphasized the urgency of energy security in his welcoming remarks. “The energy crisis, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, can foster closer co-operation between peoples and states, especially in Europe. Holding this forum on energy policy is particularly significant for South-Eastern Europe, given the volatility in energy prices,” he said. He further described the transition to green energy as an urgent priority, particularly in the region of Western Macedonia, which remains a vital energy hub in Greece.
Special Representative Hadjiyianni stressed the global significance of energy policies. “Energy is fundamental to our daily lives, and demand has grown exponentially over the past 50 years. While production has increased, not all forms of energy generation are environmentally sustainable,” he noted. “As parliaments, we must advocate more forcefully for affordable energy prices for our citizens. Access to low-cost energy is a fundamental right, and reducing electricity prices should be a key objective for our national energy regulatory authorities. This is another area where regional co-operation is essential.”
Angelos Syrigos highlighted the challenges of energy security in Europe, citing geopolitical tensions, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the ongoing energy transition as major concerns. “Western Macedonia is at the heart of Greece’s and the EU’s Green Deal policies,” he said. “This region plays a key role in Greece’s interconnection with the Balkan energy networks, and major projects, including energy storage facilities, hydrogen production, and grid upgrades, will support the integration of renewable energy sources.”
Forum participants at the Ptolemaida Power Plant, 29 March 2025A presentation was given on the actions taken by the Greek Government to achieve its energy transition targets by 2030, as well as the challenges and opportunities, particularly for the region of Western Macedonia. Participants also visited Unit V of the Ptolemaida Power Plant, gaining first-hand insights into the transition from coal to modern renewable energy technologies.
Following previous meetings in Albania and Montenegro, this conference marked the continuation of intensive parliamentary activities within the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The Assembly remains committed to supporting the work of the South East Europe Forum and similar initiatives aimed at advancing regional, subregional, and thematic policies.
The forum concluded with participants agreeing on a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to enhanced co-operation and friendly relations.
The Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the SEE Delegations to the OSCE PA serves as a platform for fostering regional co-operation and policy co-ordination.
For more information on the work of the Special Representative on South East Europe, please click here.
