Energy Department wants to ban the clerks and officials of National Regulatory Authority for Energy (ANRE) for three years from holding shares in energy companies and engage in energy companies after leaving the institution.

“ANRE officials are not allowed to hold shares in companies doing business with companies in the energy sector. ANRE officials are not allowed to hold shares in companies / funds holding shares in energy companies falling under the regulatory authority, and the provision applies including to spouses and relatives up to the second degree. ANRE officials can not work in the energy companies earlier than three years after the expiry of employment contracts signed with ANRE”, according to a press release from the Department of Energy.

“In recent years, Romania has managed to put solid basis for the creation of an independent regulatory authority, with adequate administrative capacity. In ANRE there are a significant number of people employed, that have integrity, but it is important to have clear rules on conflicts of interest, to help increase confidence in all civil institutions”, said Minister for Energy, Răzvan Nicolescu.

Department proposal is included in a bill that is a subject of a public debate. Its purpose is to define conflict of interest for ANRE employees. In preparing this draft, Energy Department experts had preliminary consultations with representatives of the National Integrity Agency.