&nbsp;To benefit from the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility set up by the EU in the aftermath of the COVID-19-induced economic crisis, Member States submit their recovery and resilience plans to the European Commission. Each plan sets out the reforms and investments to be implemented by end-2026 and Member States can receive financing up to a previously agreed allocation. Each plan should effectively address challenges identified in the European Semester, particularly the country-specific recommendations of 2019 and 2020 adopted by the Council. It should also advance the green and digital transitions and make Member States’ economies and societies more resilient. The Commission validates the plan after which it effectively enters in force and EU subsidies can start flowing towards the member state. As of March 28th, 2022, the Implementing Decision has not been released. 41% of the plan’s total allocation for reforms and investments supports climate objectives.&nbsp;</div><ul><li>&nbsp;Railway modernisation: modernising railway infrastructure, including electrified or zero-emission railways and rolling stock. €3.9 billion</li><li>Urban mobility: infrastructure for a green and more secure urban transport. €1.8 billion</li><li>Clean energy production: phasing-out of coal and lignite power production, deployment of renewables as well as related production processes, and hydrogen. €855 million</li><li>&nbsp;Energy efficiency of buildings: energy-efficient renovation and seismic renovation of buildings to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 0.15 million tons in private buildings and 0.075 million tons in public buildings. €2.7 billion</li><li>Biodiversity and environmental protection: afforestation and reforestation and forest nurseries, as well as other biodiversity measures for ecological reconstruction and species protection. €1.1 billion </li></ul><div>In its plan, Romania indicates that it aims to exit coal by 2032, and that it will legislate on the future of mines, jobs and socio-economic support by mid 2022.

The National Energy and Climate (ENCP) Plan is a ten-year integrated document <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-strategy/national-energy-climate-plans_en">mandated by the European Union</a> to each of its member states in order for the EU to meet its overall greenhouse gases emissions targets.&nbsp; The Energy and Climate Plan addresses all five dimensions of the EU Energy Union: decarbonisation, energy efficiency, energy security, internal energy markets and research, innovation and competitiveness. &nbsp; The plan establishes the following objectives and measures :&nbsp; 1) Decarbonisation : promoting investments in new low-carbon power generation capacities, using the revenues from the EU ETS Mechanisms and the Structural Funds pertaining to the new Multiannual Financial Framework, implementing the best available technologies (BAT)&nbsp; to reduce GHG emissions and to increase energy efficiency in the industrial sector, fostering the use of rail transport for transport of passenger,&nbsp; promoting the use of renewable energy in transport (electromobility in road transport and the use of biofuels);&nbsp; 2) Energy efficiency : increasing energy efficiency in the industrial and residential sectors, developing alternative mobility;&nbsp; 3) Energy security : encouraging the development of energy storage capacities; 4) Internal energy market : liberalisation of energy markets, regional integration of the internal energy market; 5) Research, innovation and competitiveness : adopting advanced technologies in the energy sector.

This Strategy, published by the Ministry of Regional Development, Public Administration and European Funds in 2017, sets out plans to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings sector. The strategy notes that increasing energy efficiency is essential for Romania to meet its medium to long term climate change objectives of moving to a competitive low carbon economy by 2050. The Strategy was designed to align with the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EC). The strategy plans to mobilise investment and technology for both energy efficiency measures and the introduction of onsite renewables generation. It is structured in three phases: Phase I: Establishing foundations so that deep renovations can become a goal within 5 years Phase II: Supporting technological development Phase III: Deep renovation of Buildings within 15 years.

This Government Decision sets up the National Climate Change and Low Carbon Green Growth Strategy (annex 1) and the National Action Plan for Implementation of the Strategy (annex 2) over the period 2016-2020. This Decision repeals Government Decision no. 529/2013 that previously organised the Romanian National Strategy on Climate Change over the period 2013-2020.

The directive reorganised NCCC as a ministerial body to promote uniform application of measures and actions needed to deal with climate change. The main tasks are to analyse the progress of achieving targets set in National Action Plan on Climate Change, identify and extend technical and financial assistance required actions, conduct research on international climate policy and actions as well as support on national communication and obligations, and co-ordinate and liaise with other organisations in Romania and outside to enable implementation of Romanian obligations and treaties.

This law amends two articles of the law 50/1991 and establishes that it is no longer mandatory to seek a permit in order to install solar photovoltaic panels on roofs.

The main objective of the law is to create a legal framework for a national policy on energy efficiency and to implement this across various sectors - primary, manufacturing, distribution and supply, transport to meet the national target of reducing energy consumption by 19%. The law establishes a framework to eliminate barriers, promote financial mechanisms, co-operation between end users, establish research, developing market for energy services etc. It promotes a strategy for building and restoration of energy efficient buildings across private, public and commercial sectors. &nbsp; &nbsp;Law 562/2016 amends the 2014 text to transpose Directive 2012/27/EU.

This law aims to prevent pollution from industrial activities to water, air and soil. However, it has a special section on geological storage of CO2 that stipulates all combustion plant operators with electrical output of 300MW and above to have suitable storage sites, transport facilities, have technical capacity to capture and compress CO2.

The law established a legal framework to tax motor vehicles based on their pollution levels based on EURO (1,2,3,4,5,6) pollution standards. The fee thus accrued is then considered as income for the environmental fund administration. The tax applied to specified categories of vehicles that are first registered in Romania with certain exemptions (e.g. diplomatic missions, disabled, armed forces etc.).

The law established a legal framework for establishing the free functioning of the National Energy Regulatory authority (ANRE, which replaced the Romanian National Energy Conservation Authority) to regulate electricity and heat production and its use to enable optimal use of primary energy sources, ensure availability and affordability, safety, quality and environmental protection based on the National Energy Strategy.It also established a framework for cogeneration, diversification of energy resources, transparency of tariffs prices and taxes, promotion of renewable energy and reduction in consumption. The law was amended on May 19, 2020, by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 74/2020 to expand the possibility of contracting power purchase agreements. This Ordinance was motivated by the desire to improve the uptake of renewable energy in the country. Law no. 155 of July 27, 2020, amends and supplements Law no. 123/2012 and other normative acts. It notably sets the legal framework for licensing around hydrogen and amend tariffs rules. Law no. 290/2020 amends the law to transpose EU Directive 2019/692 (amending Directive 2009/73/EC).

Romania. 2022 National Inventory Report (NIR), National Inventory Report from Romania in 2022

Romania. 2021 National Inventory Report (NIR), National Inventory Report from Romania in 2021

Romania. Biennial report (BR). BR 4, Biennial Report from Romania in 2020

Romania. National Communication (NC). NC 7., National Communication from Romania in 2017

Government Decision no. 739/2016 approving the National Climate Change and Low Carbon Green Growth Strategy 2016-2020 and National Action Plan for Implementation of the Strategy

Government Decision no. 739/2016 approving the National Climate Change and Low Carbon Green Growth Strategy 2016-2020 and National Action Plan for Implementation of the Strategy

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