Energy Transition In Romania And The European Union: Developments, Challenges And Perspectives

Energy is considered the driving force of society, a fundamental pillar that supports economic development, improves living standards, and enables the transformations of the digital age. Over time, it has been both the subject and the object of profound structural and technological change. The Member States of the European Union, including Romania, have committed to ambitious environmental protection goals, united under the shared objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Within this context, the energy sector is undergoing a process of transformation, marked by a rapid shift toward electricity generation from renewable sources. A critical question emerges: can Romania keep pace with these dynamic developments while ensuring the availability of green energy in sufficient quantities and at sustainable costs? Failure to do so may result in significant economic and social pressures stemming from the misalignment between environmental objectives and the structural realities of the national energy market. This study analyzes the evolution of Romania's energy mix, with a particular focus on electricity production, import dependency, the phasing out of fossil fuels, and the integration of renewable resources. It further evaluates the challenges, strategic responses, and future prospects of Romania's energy transition within the broader framework of European energy policy and recent geopolitical developments, including the war in Ukraine.