The main goal of this study is to serve as a template for defining and implementing future public policies for energy transition in the Republic of Serbia. It first summarizes the basic characteristics of a targeted, desirable model of energy transition that would lead to decentralization and demetropolitization of public action in this area. It then analyzes the basic features of the current situation in Serbia and neighboring EU member states, and offers a starting point for reforms of existing policies. Some of the authors’ key suggestions are that the transfer of legal acquis, essential elements of public policies and good practices of the EU in this area should be carried out independently of the formal processes of membership negotiations. At a central level, it is necessary to establish new and strengthen existing support mechanisms for local self-governments for cross-border cooperation, while the basic recommendations for municipal authorities are to reduce administration, reduce ad hoc access, make citizens’ participation effective, as well as systematically perform ex ante and ex post evaluations of the effects of their public policies in the field of energy transition.