Energy Sector Representatives at FERM 2025 | Ion ȘTEFANOVICI: “Energy Transition and Efficiency Must Become Real Strategic Priorities, Not Just Topics for Debate”

At a time when the Moldova region is striving to harness the opportunities offered by new European funds and the energy transition, Ion Ștefanovici, President of the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development (CAPDR), emphasized the importance of a coordinated and efficient approach during a broadcast on the regional television station Antena 3 Suceava.

According to him, Panel 5 of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum – dedicated to Energy and the transition towards a sustainable energy system – will serve as a crucial platform for connecting institutional and private actors from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. “We will make important linkages. For example, the Energy Panel will include representatives from the Ministry of Energy in Bucharest, as well as from Chișinău. We have already received confirmation of participation from the Secretary General of the Romanian Ministry of Energy,” Ștefanovici stated.

Key Investors and Discussions on Market Liberalization

He also specified that among the prominent guests will be representatives from leading companies in the energy sector. “The former ENEL, now PPC, will be present with a significant team of specialists. We will discuss not only public policies but also the involvement of the private sector in modernizing energy infrastructure and improving consumption efficiency.”

The CAPDR President underlined that discussions must also consider market realities: “Why not bring up the fact that July 1 is approaching, and Romania remains on a somewhat liberalized energy market?” In his view, it is essential that authorities and private beneficiaries prepare for this new phase and understand the opportunities offered by European programs focused on energy transition and efficiency.

European Funds and the Need for Strategic Planning

In the same dialogue, the CAPDR President stressed that efficient planning of European funds must go hand in hand with the real needs of local communities. “We are currently in the middle of the financial exercise. The European Funds Panel’s mission is to keep local administrations, SMEs, and investors informed in real-time about strategic directions and funding conditions. There is no more time for improvisation.”

He warned that a lack of vision could lead to missing essential opportunities for the region’s modernization: “If we do not think in terms of complementarity and integration – energy, infrastructure, digitalization – we will not truly succeed in changing the face of Moldova.”

Conclusion: A Call for Coherence and Action

The message conveyed by Ion Ștefanovici is clear: energy transition, efficiency, and adaptation to new market realities are not only technical challenges but also major tests of governance and regional planning. The energy future of Moldova depends on how European resources are leveraged, openness to public-private partnerships, and the capacity of local decision-makers to act with vision.