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Kristina Čelić
Episode · #413

ZGRADONAČELNIK Kristina Čelić

Guest Kristina ČelićHosted by Tin BašićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

The conversation begins with a stark reality: despite decades of discussion, "energy poverty" still lacks a clear definition at both European and national levels. Kristina Čelić, Director of the Energy Directorate at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, explains how this definitional gap means governments often tackle the problem by expanding existing social aid for "vulnerable customers" rather than creating new, targeted policies. Her insights reveal the intricate balance between immediate crisis management, like the recent 5 billion kuna intervention package, and the long-term systemic changes required to truly alleviate energy insecurity. This discussion delves into the realpolitik of energy policy: how funds from CO2 emission allowances are redirected to cushion price shocks, and why the ambition for a renewable energy future is often bottlenecked by the sheer physical infrastructure needed to deliver it. Čelić lays bare the challenges of modernizing grids and the persistent threat of energy scarcity, even as new sources proliferate. You will walk away understanding that energy transition is as much about wires and permits as it is about panels and turbines.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
When "energy poverty" lacks a clear definition at both EU and national levels, governments often respond by expanding existing support for "vulnerable customers" rather than crafting entirely new social policies. The lesson is that policy often moves by extending familiar frameworks, not by inventing new ones.
02
Croatia's 5 billion kuna intervention package, including expanded vouchers for gas and heating, demonstrates a direct financial response to energy price shocks. These measures are designed to mitigate immediate household impact, but they primarily address symptoms rather than the underlying causes of energy insecurity.
03
Kristina Čelić clarifies that energy poverty isn't merely the inability to pay bills, but also the lack of available energy itself. Systemic solutions, she argues, require fundamental economic development, better employment opportunities, and strategic investments to ensure both supply and affordability.
04
Funds generated from CO2 emission allowances, originally intended for energy efficiency and renewable projects, are now being redirected to alleviate the immediate financial burden of energy poverty. This shows how climate-focused financial mechanisms can be repurposed during crises to address pressing social needs.
05
The guest directly confirms "the potential for a lack of energy on the market" as a present danger, echoing concerns about 1980s-era scarcity. This highlights that despite advancements in energy sources, fundamental supply security remains a critical, and often precarious, challenge.
06
The "crucial problem" in Croatia's energy transition, according to Čelić, is the lagging development of electro-energetic infrastructure, particularly low-voltage distribution and high-capacity transmission networks. The capacity to generate renewable energy often outstrips the grid's ability to absorb and distribute it.
07
Building critical energy infrastructure, such as new power lines, is significantly slowed by complex environmental permitting processes, even for individual components like a single pole. The speed of energy transition is often dictated less by technology or capital, and more by regulatory and environmental approvals.
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