Romania is reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and economic competitiveness by continuing the implementation of its Green Deal Industrial Plan. Despite global uncertainties and discussions around scaling back environmental goals, Romania is determined to maintain its course toward a greener, more competitive future, said Florin Spătaru, State Counsellor Romanian Government, at the conference “International Approach: Catalyzing Romania’s energy future”, organised by Energynomics in London.
“Recently, we have heard that we might give up on our ambitions regarding the greening of our planet. Why should we do that? Why don’t we look at competitiveness? Why don’t we reconsider our targets? Romania remains committed to moving forward with this program — perhaps with a different approach, perhaps by better understanding what it truly means and considering competitiveness as well. Overall, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure a better future for the next generations. We must guarantee that they inherit a healthier planet, a competitive industry, stable jobs, and secure energy. Moreover, we must make sure that future generations also have a sustainable future on this planet. For this reason, Romania is continuing this program,” Spătaru stated.
To align with European objectives, Romania has already developed a Green Deal Industrial Plan, mapping out the key industries to be developed and the resources available for their sustainable expansion. This initiative is crucial for ensuring that future industries have access to stable energy sources, particularly from renewables, while maintaining the country’s industrial competitiveness.
According to Spătaru, with the challenges of high energy prices and supply chain disruptions, Romania acknowledges the necessity of a sustainable energy transition. Rather than regressing to outdated practices, the government sees innovation and investment in renewable energy as the foundation for long-term growth.
In previous years, Europe moved away from industry, focusing on research, licensing, and outsourcing. However, the pandemic, the energy crisis, and geopolitical shifts have demonstrated the need for a robust, locally anchored industrial sector. Spătaru added that, in March, it was officially stated that “there is no future for the European Union without a strong industrial base.”
The official also expressed his confidence that 2026 is the year when Romania will adhere to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): “Just to be very clear, 2026 is the moment when will we enter into OCED”, he said when Edward Randolph, Investment Director with Amber Infrastructure, raised this point “I think once that the OECD membership is sorted out, I’d expect to see a huge capital inflow into Romania”.
The conference “International Approach: Catalyzing Romania’s energy future” was organised by Energynomics in London with the support of our partners AJ Brand, Elektra Renewable Support, Adrem Asset Management, Enexus, Nofar Energy, Parapet, Wiren.