Macedonia has passed a new Law on the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources - a legal framework that promises faster permits for solar panels, introduces energy communities and easier procedures for both citizens and investors.

The new law introduces green zones, simplified procedures for issuing permits and new rules for investment in clean energy. The aim is to speed up the energy transition - a process in which Macedonia has for years lagged behind its promises. For an ordinary citizen who wants to put panels on their roof, fewer administrative obstacles also mean fewer months of waiting in front of every counter.

The idea is good, but experience teaches caution. A law that looks comprehensive on paper doesn't automatically mean a fast result - many previous "reform" frameworks ended up stuck in the very bureaucratic labyrinths they were supposed to abolish. The question isn't whether the law sounds modern, but whether the municipalities, the distribution operator and the permit-issuers will actually start working faster.

Energy communities - where several households or a small community produce and share electricity together - are a model that is already delivering results across Europe. If they truly take root here too, that would mean a step towards cheaper and cleaner energy in the hands of citizens, rather than in the hands of only the big players. Whether the law will really open those doors, or only on paper - the first year of its application will show.