{"id":53662,"date":"2025-12-12T09:36:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T09:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/?post_type=press_releases&p=53662"},"modified":"2025-12-12T09:36:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T09:36:58","slug":"first-regional-cbam-conference-held-in-belgrade","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/press-releases\/first-regional-cbam-conference-held-in-belgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"First Regional CBAM Conference Held in Belgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"
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  1. June, 2025<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Powered by Geci\u0107 Law, in cooperation with the Responsible Business Hub of the\u00a0Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia<\/a>,\u00a0GIZ Serbia<\/a>, and the Institute for Global Solidarity, the first\u00a0Regional Conference on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)<\/a>\u00a0was held in Belgrade.\u00a0 The event brought together key stakeholders from government institutions, the business community, international organizations, and experts to examine the implications of the EU CBAM regulation for the countries of the Western Balkans.\u00a0 The conference focused on the latest EU initiative to simplify the CBAM framework, the challenges and opportunities the mechanism presents for export-oriented economies in the region, and possibilities for regulatory alignment and cooperation at the regional and international levels.<\/p>\n

    In her opening remarks, the Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade,\u00a0Jagoda Lazarevi\u0107<\/a>, emphasized that, \u201cTogether, we must balance climate ambition and stability, ensuring economic fairness and regional prosperity.\u00a0 CBAM must not become a barrier separating Europe from the Western Balkans but rather a bridge facilitating Serbia\u2019s successful green transition and deeper integration into the European family.\u00a0 Let us be partners on this European journey toward a carbon-neutral future\u2014supported and encouraged,\u201d said the Minister, adding that \u201cA share of CBAM revenues should be allocated to Serbia and its regional neighbors to finance decarbonization, industrial modernization, and workforce reskilling. This would promote continued economic stabilization in the region.\u201d, adding that \u201cto this end, a share of CBAM revenues should be allocated to Serbia and its regional neighbors to finance decarbonization, industrial modernization, and workforce reskilling.\u00a0 This would promote continued economic stabilization in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Marko \u010cade\u017e<\/a>, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, highlighted the importance of joint action and knowledge exchange.\u00a0 \u201cCBAM currently applies to companies in the sectors of steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, and electricity, but it may soon include the chemical and petrochemical industries, and over time, other sectors and their suppliers as well.\u00a0 That is why it is important that we use this conference as an opportunity for governments, economies, and experts to jointly define the best responses and strategies.\u00a0 CBAM is not just a cost and an obstacle, but also an opportunity for investment in the green transition, modernization of production, improvement of energy efficiency, and maintaining access to key markets.\u00a0 It is also a chance to strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate economic development within the framework of the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans,\u201d \u010cade\u017e noted.<\/p>\n

    Bogdan Geci\u0107<\/a>, Founding Partner at Geci\u0107 Law, stressed that timely information and preparedness are vital for the business sector.\u00a0 \u201cCBAM is not just the world\u2019s first carbon-based tariff \u2014 it is a transformative policy tool that will reshape the very foundation of international trade.\u00a0 For the Western Balkans, its significance goes even deeper: it will fundamentally alter how we trade with the European Union, our most important economic partner.\u00a0 From now on, trade history will be distinguished as either before or after CBAM.\u00a0 The responsibility now lies with us to ensure that all stakeholders are equipped to navigate this shift and seize the opportunities it presents,\u201d said Geci\u0107.<\/p>\n

    Delphine Sallard<\/a>, Senior Advisor at the European Commission\u2019s CBAM team, explained in detail the recently proposed simplification of the CBAM Regulation under the Omnibus Package.\u00a0 \u201cProposed simplifications include a new CBAM de minimis threshold to exclude small EU importers with low emissions and reduce overall compliance cost, but ensuring that at least 99% of emissions remain in scope. The reform will also allow for the use of default carbon prices to facilitate the claim of a reduction for an effective carbon price paid in a third country and exclude the manufacturing processes of aluminum and steel downstream goods from the boundaries of the calculation of emissions,\u201d Sallard stated. \u00a0Proposed simplifications also include the removal of conditions on the use of default values for the calculation of embedded emissions and extended deadlines for submission of CBAM declaration and surrendering of certificates.<\/p>\n

    The thematic panels attracted particular attention, providing a comprehensive insight into the challenges and opportunities the EU CBAM presents for the region.\u00a0 The panels addressed key issues \u2014 ranging from the administrative and technical challenges faced by companies outside the EU to the impact of CBAM on sectors within its scope, as well as potential strategic and legislative responses of Western Balkan countries.\u00a0 Among the panelists were representatives of European institutions, the business sector, and legal experts, who emphasized the importance of regional coordination and the availability of technical support. For further information on the panels and panelists, please visit:\u00a0CBAM Belgrade 2025 | powered by Geci\u0107 Law<\/a><\/p>\n

    The conclusion of the conference was clear: a unified and strategic approach by the region is essential to maintaining competitiveness and ensuring a successful transition toward sustainable business practices. The Western Balkans must act now. \u00a0There is no time to lose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-53662","press_releases","type-press_releases","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases\/53662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press_releases"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}