Romania supports at the European level the directions concerning the free energy market, decarbonization, and grid development, but domestically it continues to apply administrative measures and prolonged capping schemes that affect investments, predictability, and the implementation of the energy transition, according to Dumitru Chisăliță, president of the Smart Energy Association (AEI), in an analysis cited by Agerpres.
„Romania is not ‘against’ the EU's energy direction. On the contrary, in the Council, in the European Parliament, in strategic documents – from the PNESC (National Integrated Energy and Climate Change Plan, editor's note) to official positions – it supports exactly the broad lines of the European transition. Functional market. Accelerated decarbonization. Modern grids. Targeted social protection. Credible implementation. On paper, Romania is aligned. In practice, however, it frequently ends up ‘backwards.’ This gap between word and deed is not just an image problem. It is a problem of economic costs, missed investments, and strategic credibility.”, states Chisăliță, in the analysis titled: „Romania Votes for Europe. At Home, it Postpones It. On the Energy Approach of a Country That Signs for the Free Market and Practices an Administered Regime”.
According to the cited source, in recent years, the EU's direction in energy has crystallized around several axes, which Romania has supported and voted for, namely a functional market (freely formed prices, cross-border transactions, common rules), accelerated decarbonization through „more wind/solar, efficiency, electrification, flexibility (storage, demand response).”.
Romania has also supported the modernization of networks and the integration of resources through large investments in transport/distribution, digitalization, connections, and congestion reduction; targeted social protection (not permanent distortion) through vulnerability aid, not blocking price signals for everyone, respectively planning and implementation: credible NECP, auctions, stable schemes (e.g., CfD), and deadlines met.
Romania also has assumed targets in the updated NECP, such as increasing the share of renewables by 2030, with sectoral details, the specialist specifies.
„Romania declares that it supports the internal energy market – free price formation, cross-border transactions, common rules. And yet, at every shock, the reflex response is administrative control: caps, fixed-price sale obligations, exceptional contributions, restrictions.” the analysis also shows.
The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings for measures that limit the freedom of price formation and affect trade. In 2025, Romania received a reasoned opinion for obligations imposed on gas producers to sell at a fixed price on the wholesale market.
According to the cited source, Romania votes for the „internal market” but maintains a prolonged crisis regime at home. „Politically, the cap solves today's bill. Economically, it undermines tomorrow's investments,” the specialist emphasized.
Chisăliță maintains that „energy is precisely the area where a lack of investment costs dearly later on.”.
„Romania has agreed to a coal reduction schedule and ambitious targets for renewables by 2030. However, when replacement projects are delayed – whether we're talking about new capacity, storage, or grids – the solution is not to accelerate implementation, to negotiate deadlines.”, the document also states.
In 2025, there were discussions regarding the extension of the operation of some coal-fired power plants beyond the deadlines agreed upon in the plans related to European financing, notes the specialist.
„Once again, the paradox: Romania signs the calendar, but when implementation falters, it moves the deadline. The problem isn't realism – any transition must be managed responsibly. The problem is the lack of coherent delivery that avoids dependence on postponements.” added the AEI president.
According to research, Romania is not anti-renewables. „On the contrary, the potential is great, and investors exist. But regulatory instability, frequent changes through Emergency Ordinances, ad-hoc taxes, and approval blockages create a risky environment. This is compounded by grids that cannot keep up with connections and tariffs that do not provide clear signals for flexibility. While at the EU level, in 2025, wind and solar surpassed fossil fuels in electricity production, Romania is advancing „in waves” – periods of boom followed by administrative brakes. Investors do not fear the market. They fear unpredictability,” Chisăliță added.
The study also shows that the EU promotes targeted protection for vulnerable consumers, not permanent market distortion.
„However, Romania has extended the capping scheme for long periods since 2021, with side effects: liquidity crunch, payment delays, litigation, and „anesthetized” price signals. When the real price no longer reaches the consumer, investments in efficiency and flexibility decrease. When the market is distorted for too long, capital demands higher returns – or leaves.” added the AEI president.
In his opinion, it's not just about „malice,” but about structural causes, namely the politicization of bills – energy is an electoral subject, and the immediate measure trumps sustainable reform.
Institutional fragmentation, poor coordination between ministries, ANRE, state-owned companies, and operators, as well as local social pressures, are also on the list. Thus, without a credible just transition, postponement becomes a political solution, he mentions.
Romania is not the only country that intervened in the market during the crisis years, but the difference lies in the duration and the lack of a clear exit from the exceptional regime, he added.
„What does „turning upside down” our energy direction cost us compared to the EU? The costs are real and cumulative: investment uncertainty – delays in grids and flexibility; risk of sanctions and litigation – damaged reputation; higher medium-term prices – lack of new capacities and congestion increase costs.”, the document adds.
Chisăliță went on to list the lost opportunity. „At a time when the EU is structurally accelerating the transition, Romania risks being left behind in terms of infrastructure. The cap may keep today's bill down. But if it blocks investments, tomorrow's bill will be higher,” he added.
According to the AEI president, if Romania wants to be on the EU's path not just in voting but also in practice, three changes are decisive: from emergency ordinances to legislative stability. „Interventions should be temporary, predictable, and strictly targeted towards the vulnerable. Not broad and permanent distortions,” Chisăliță considers.