LEEWAY Interreg project
LEEWAY - LEading coopEration toWArds energy communities policies tackling energy povertY
Project summary
The introduction of Renewable Energy Communities (REC) seems to be one of the appropriate responses to reduce energy costs and adopting sustainable energy solutions (wind, turbines, and solar panels) of whom communities could benefit from, also contributing to address EU energy targets, such as those identified by the European Green Deal. However, REC raises questions on the ways in which this introduction should be enacted, and the role of law in this context.
The Renewable Energy Directive – RED II is part of the so-called clean energy package promoted by the European Union. Moreover, art. 22 of RED II oblige Member States to introduce an enable framework to promote and favour the development of REC. Therefore, Regions and local authorities have the task to create this framework within their Regional and Local Energy Strategies. However, this process is still far behind schedule and has not yet started in some EU countries.
For this reason, the LEEWAY project, aims to foster the adoption of energy policies for the creation of REC through the sharing and exchange of experiences between public authorities and regions. To get this purpose, the project foresees the participation of local and regional authorities, from different EU countries (ITA, BE, PL, D, HR) directly responsible for the elaboration and implementation of energy development policies, together with development agencies.
Project Partners
· LP/PP1: SIPRO (Italy)
· PP2: Regione Emilia-Romagna (Italy)
· PP3: City of Roeselare (Belgium)
· PP4: Marshal’s Office of Silesia Region, Silesian Government (Poland)
· PP5: Citizen-energy-cooperatives in district of Pfaffenhofen a.d.Ilm (Germany)
· PP6: Municipality of Pfaffenhofen a.d. Ilm (Germany)
· PP7: Grad Prelog (Croatia)
· PP8: Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
· PP9: Lviv City Council (Ukraine)
What will this project change
Through Study Tour, workshops and conferences at regional and interregional level, as well as mutual exchange of experiences, good practices and new ideas, each partner will be able to intervene on their energy policies related to the introduction of REC, also acting on policies concerning jobs and growth such as ROPs for the reference sector, improving the citizens well-being and contrasting the Energy Poverty.
Project LEEWAY in numbers
Total budget: 1.656.904,00 €
Period of implementation: 01 Mar 2023-31 May 2027
Number of project partners: 9 (7 countries)
* Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina) is project partner no. 8 in project LEEWAY (within Interreg EUROPE Programme
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Project LEEWAY presented at the “20 Best in Zenica-Doboj Canton” Event
Through the project “Promotion of the Domestic Economy, Domestic Production and Domestic Products”, Zenica-Doboj Canton continues activities aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of domestic companies, promoting local producers, and connecting businesses with consumers. With the support of the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton, through the Ministry of Economy of Zenica-Doboj Canton, the project is being implemented by the Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton.
As part of the project’s closing event, the “20 Best in Zenica-Doboj Canton” awards ceremony was held. During the ceremony, the “Bosnian Royal Ducat” awards were presented to the 20 most successful companies from Zenica-Doboj Canton, as well as to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and exporters from the Canton for 2025.
The event also included a panel discussion on the challenges of bringing domestic products to consumers. Representatives of the Ministry of Economy of Zenica-Doboj Canton, the Faculty of Economics of the University of Zenica, and companies Magnet Studio Maglaj and Empress Zenica took part in the discussion.
The LEEWAY project was also presented during the event.
The LEEWAY project (LEading coopEration toWArds energy communities policies tackling energy poverty) is a transnational project approved under the Interreg Europe Programme.
The LEEWAY project aims to encourage the adoption of policies that support the development of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in European regions, through:
- exchange of experiences between public authorities at different levels,
- interregional cooperation and knowledge transfer.
Through study tours, workshops and conferences at regional and interregional level, as well as mutual exchange of experiences, good practices and new ideas, each partner will be able to intervene in their energy policies related to the introduction of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), and will also act on policies related to employment and growth, improving the well-being of citizens and combating energy poverty.
The Lead partner in the LEEWAY project is the SIPRO agency from Italy, and 9 partners from 7 European countries are participating in the project, including the Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton as a partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Project LEEWAY Presented at Fair “ZEPS 2026”
The Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton presented the LEEWAY – LEading coopEration toWArds energy communities policies tackling energy povertY project at the ZEPS 2026 International General BH Trade Fair, held from 2 to 5 September in Zenica.
This year's ZEPS, with more than 500 exhibitors and over 20,000 m² of exhibition space, provided an excellent opportunity to present the activities and results of the LEEWAY project to the business community, institutions and the wider public.
As part of a dedicated promotional activity held on 5 September 2026, the Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton, as Project Partner PP8, presented the project's objectives, activities and results achieved so far. Visitors had the opportunity to explore the project's official website, watch video materials from international study visits and collect LEEWAY promotional materials. Of particular significance was the interest expressed by representatives of other chambers of commerce in the project and in the possibilities for further dissemination of LEEWAY experiences and results in their respective regions.
The LEEWAY project is implemented within the Interreg Europe Programme, with the aim of improving policies that support the development of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). Through interregional cooperation, study visits, workshops and the exchange of good practices, the project partners work to facilitate knowledge transfer and create a more supportive environment for the development of energy communities, while contributing to the energy transition and the reduction of energy poverty.
The project's Lead Partner is Ferrara Development Agency – SIPRO, Italy, and the partnership brings together eight partners from six European countries. The Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton is the project partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the only partner from a non-EU country.
The next project activity will be the LEEWAY Final Event in Ferrara, Italy, from 16 to 18 September 2026, which will also be attended by a representative of the Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton. The Final Event will provide an opportunity to present the project's results, exchange experiences among the partners and discuss the next steps in applying the knowledge gained and good practices identified through the project.
The presentation of the LEEWAY project at ZEPS forms part of the Chamber of Commerce of Zenica-Doboj Canton's ongoing activities aimed at bringing the concept of renewable energy communities closer to businesses, institutions and other interested stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
#LEEWAY #InterregEurope #PKZDK #ZEPS2026 #EnergyCommunities #RenewableEnergy #REC #EnergyTransition
