As of March 26, 2025, Romania’s National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has implemented a new Regulation (Order No. 6/2025) governing licensing and permitting in the electricity sector, replacing the decade-old Order No. 12/2015. The updated framework modernizes the regulatory landscape for electricity production, distribution, and supply. Key changes include the introduction of new license categories...
The Council of the European Union adopted on December 16th, 2024 the Regulation on packaging and packaging waste
The Council of the European Union adopted the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation on December 16th, 2024 with the aim of significantly reducing waste and promoting reuse. The new rules set mandatory reuse targets, restrict single-use packaging and require economic operators to minimize the use of packaging. Important requirements include setting minimum percentages of recycled...
Developing a new state aid scheme for energy storage capacities from renewable sources
The Romanian Ministry of Energy has launched a public consultation on a new state aid scheme to support investments in electricity storage capacities, funded through the Modernization Fund. This initiative aims to encourage investments in batteries for storing energy from renewable sources, contributing to the creation of a competitive market. The new scheme focuses on...
From 2026, electronic products introduced in the EU must be easily repairable, reusable, and recyclable
EU officials aim to make the European Union (EU) “the first climate-neutral continent” by 2050, by transforming it into a “fair and prosperous society with a modern, competitive, climate-neutral and circular economy and a toxic-free environment”, says Regulation (EU) 2024/1781. According to this regulation, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European...
The Guarantee-Return-System (SGR) constitutes a positive impact 8 months after its launch
Implemented in Romania at the end of November 2023, the Guarantee-Return-System (SGR) is a key step towards efficient collecting and recycling of beverage packaging, promoting the idea of circular economy. The number of packaging returned and recycled has steadily increased in recent months, from 31.000 in December 2023, to 2.2 million in January and 21...
Public debate on 150 million Euro state aid scheme for energy storage in Romania
The Romanian Ministry of Energy has launched into public debate a new state aid scheme of 150 million Euros financed by the EU Modernisation Fund for investments in energy storage solutions (i.e., batteries). A national call for projects will be opened and the following criteria must be respected to become eligible as a funding-beneficiary: The...
Greenwashing: EU gradually tackles global phenomenon
To stimulate equitable and sustainable sourcing accompanied by fair advertising the European Union is currently implementing EU-wide bans on: The administrative process commenced in 2022 and by January 2024 an agreement was reached which was adopted by the European Council in February 2024. EU member countries have 24 months to incorporate the legislative update into...
Renewable energy’s share on German power grids reaches 55% in 2023
The share of renewables on Germany’s power grids rose by 6.6 percentage points to 55% of the total last year, the sector’s regulator said on Wednesday, as Europe’s largest economy moves closer to its 2030 target. Germany wants green power to account for 80% of its energy mix by 2030. It has ditched nuclear power...
About 30.000 charging stations for electric cars are foreseen by mid-2026
Romania plans to enhance the national infrastructure for alternative fuels in road vehicles, which includes the installation of at least 30,000 recharging points by mid-2026, as announced EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean. The projects will be financed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The EU, according to the transport commissioner, needs to...
The Green Cities Project – a chance for the sustainable development of Bucharest
Bucharest City Hall has launched, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) the Green Cities Action Plan for Bucharest (PAOV) project, as part of a wider initiative, aiming to assist the large urban centres in their transition process towards sustainable growth and reducing carbon emissions. The EBRD funding line supports cities in...