On 20 October 2026, CENER 21, in cooperation with the Municipality of Breza, organised the third local stakeholder meeting within the REEF – Regions putting Energy Efficiency First project, implemented through the Interreg Europe programme. The meeting focused on exploring European good practices in energy efficiency and discussing how these experiences could help address challenges identified at the local level.
Building on previous stakeholder meetings, where participants discussed key barriers to improving energy efficiency in Breza, this meeting provided an opportunity to connect local needs with practical approaches and solutions developed in other European regions.
Learning from European Good Practices
During the meeting, participants were introduced to good practices from Slovenia, Denmark, Romania and Moldova, highlighting different approaches to planning, financing and implementing energy efficiency measures.
The examples covered energy consumption monitoring in public buildings, setting priorities for energy efficiency investments, energy renovation of buildings, and approaches to preparing and financing local projects.
These experiences provided valuable insights into how local authorities can improve energy management, make more informed investment decisions and strengthen their capacity to develop energy efficiency projects.
The discussion also focused on the potential relevance of these practices for Breza, taking into account the barriers and needs identified during previous stakeholder consultations.
Building the REEF Path for Breza
An important part of the meeting was the interactive workshop “Building the REEF Path for Breza”, designed to encourage participants to reflect on the municipality’s current capacities and opportunities for improvement.
Working in groups, participants assessed five key steps in the process of planning and implementing energy efficiency measures: understanding the current situation, identifying priorities, preparing suitable projects, securing financing and implementing measures, and monitoring results.
Through group discussions and a joint assessment exercise, participants identified areas where Breza already has relevant knowledge and experience, as well as areas where further improvements may be needed.
Different perspectives on individual steps encouraged an open exchange of views on the practical challenges local institutions face when planning and implementing energy efficiency measures.
Connecting European Knowledge with Local Needs
The meeting highlighted the importance of adapting European experiences to local circumstances rather than simply replicating solutions developed elsewhere.
By linking the good practices presented through REEF with the needs identified in Breza, the discussions offered additional ideas for improving energy consumption monitoring, investment planning and project preparation.
The meeting also contributed to continued cooperation and knowledge exchange between CENER 21, the Municipality of Breza and local stakeholders, supporting further consideration of how the Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle can be integrated into local planning and decision-making.
🎥 Watch the video from the meeting on our Facebook page.
CENER 21 thanks all participants for their contributions and active engagement and looks forward to continuing joint activities within the REEF project.
About REEF
The REEF – Regions putting Energy Efficiency First project, funded through the Interreg Europe programme, supports local and regional authorities in applying the Energy Efficiency First principle through knowledge exchange, policy development and institutional capacity building.
Learn more about the project: https://www.interregeurope.eu/reef