It is necessary to save energy and use what we own rationally, it was concluded at Tuesday's regional conference "Achieving Social and Economic Sustainability through Energy Efficiency at Central and Local Level." The Center for Research and Policy Making and "Mother Teresa" School of Public Policy organised the conference held in Skopje.

"The Government of Macedonia has already passed a strategy advancing energy efficiency up to 2020 that covers three key moments - reliable energy supply, economic growth sustainability and economic competitiveness," Economy Minister Valon Saraqini said.

Macedonia, he pointed out, has signed the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community thus being obligated to meet several conditions by 2018 i.e. 2020 when 20% of the total energy consumption needs to be provided from renewable energy sources.

"The Ministry of Economy is actively engaged in government's measures on energy efficiency. A concrete action plan has been drafted, there's also the World Bank's $5.5-million project aimed at reconstructing schools or making them energy efficient," Saraqini said.

He added that a new project with USAID was due to be launched on improving energy efficiency in households. Measures will be also taken to raise public awareness on the significance of energy efficiency.

Marija Risteska, an executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, said the conference aimed to start a discussion on two topics - energy efficiency at local level and energy poverty.

In Macedonia, energy efficiency is regulated through several strategies and laws covering a number of segments involving energy saving.

Experts from Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro attended the conference.