Acasă » General Interest » Romania distances itself from Green Deal, Energy Ministry to present “negative effects” in new report

Romania distances itself from Green Deal, Energy Ministry to present “negative effects” in new report

22 January 2025
Economics&Markets
Bogdan Tudorache

“I will present to the Government a detailed report on the negative effects of “Green Deal” policies on the Romanian energy sector,” reads a new surprise statement by Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja.

Romania has repeatedly addressed requests to the European Union regarding the preservation of an adequate energy mix, and government sources consulted by Energynomics have often told us that “very heated discussions have taken place in Brussels”, in a very high tone, because “Germany has tailored its Green Deal to its own interests”.

Although the above statements were made “on the background” some time ago, following the unjustified increase in energy prices, Romania recently returned to Brussels, together with a number of regional states such as Greece and Bulgaria, demanding new measures – including better interconnection capacities – to keep the price under control.

The inability of bureaucrats in Brussels to provide adequate solutions and a too abrupt transition to electrification, which involves very high costs and, therefore, excessive pressure on the Romanian taxpayer (corroborated by the fact that Romania has reserve energy resources that can cover the energy deficit in the band) have created frustrations not only at the governmental level, but also in the industry and in society as a whole – we were the country with one of the highest inflations in recent years, especially due to energy prices.

The Ministry of Energy, however, seems to have reached the end of its patience, and expectations from Brussels are probably too high.

“In the coming period, I will present to the Government a detailed report on the negative effects of the “Green Deal” policies on the Romanian energy sector. And I commit, as always, to act in the interest of my country.

“Romania has the energy that Europe needs. We will have enough for ourselves and for our neighbors, from Chisinau to Vienna. But for this, we must make courageous decisions and put an end to the illusion that a weak economy can support a strong democracy. Romania must be strong, so that Europe can be strong”, argues Minister Sebastian Burduja.

Massive energy production means low prices

Romania has demonstrated throughout history that it knows how to face challenges, but today we are going through a critical moment for the future of our energy and Europe. The “greening” policies of the European Union, although well-intentioned, risk turning our European economies into victims of bureaucratization and decisions not adapted to economic realities, argues the Minister of Energy.

“The Draghi report says bluntly what we have also seen in hot statistical data: the European Union, which produced only 3% of the world’s coal in 2024 and emitted less than 5% of global CO2 emissions, is applying the harshest environmental policies on its own.

This is not a path to prosperity. President Trump showed the world yesterday that democracies are only strong when their economies are strong. And you know what a strong economy does? It produces safe, affordable and abundant energy! Energy that keeps factories open, prices low and puts food on every family’s table.

Romania has everything it needs to be a regional leader in energy:

– We have natural gas (we are already the first producer in the EU) and coal-fired power plants that can be modernized according to the latest BAT technologies, with low emissions and high efficiency.

– We are building the future new Romanian nuclear program, with strategic partners such as the USA, Canada, Italy, France, South Korea and Japan.

– We have dozens of hydropower projects in the works, started decades ago and which we have set about completing, and therefore the potential to be the energy engine of Eastern Europe, including in the perspective of the reconstruction of Ukraine.

What can hold us back is a stifling bureaucracy and a Green Deal that ignores the realities on the ground. That is why, as EPP leaders have said, a solid debate is needed on how and if the EU will continue the Green Deal for the coming years. It is time to wake up! If we do not recover now, we risk losing the last chance to rebuild the European economy on solid foundations.

Romania must have the courage to call things by their names: Europeans deserve to pay less for energy, and we can offer the solution. It is simple: massive energy production means low prices, low prices mean cheap goods and services produced/provided in the EU, meaning a better quality of life for every Romanian and European, better-paid jobs and European competitiveness. It is a simple equation that the European Commission must also accept,” says the statement issued by Sebastian Burduja.

 

 

Autor: Bogdan Tudorache

Active in the economic and business press for the past 26 years, Bogdan graduated Law and then attended intensive courses in Economics and Business English. He went up to the position of editor-in-chief since 2006 and has provided management and editorial policy for numerous economic publications dedicated especially to the community of foreign investors in Romania. From 2003 to 2013 he was active mainly in the financial-banking sector. He started freelancing for Energynomics in 2013, notable for his advanced knowledge of markets, business communities and a mature editorial style, both in Romanian and English.

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