Romanian Energy Center promotes Romania as regional energy player

Since its establishment in 2011, the association Romanian Energy Center (CRE) has been the main platform for dialogue between the energy industry, the competent authorities in Romania and the relevant institutions in the European Union. CRE develops complex activities to represent the energy sector in Romania and promotes the interests of its members, being aligned with the values ​​of the European Union regarding the concern for climate change, decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization of the energy industry. Currently, CRE members represent companies from the entire value chain of the energy industry: production and generation, transmission and distribution, energy service providers, technology and design, IT&C, both in the gas and oil sector and in the electricity sector.

CRE combines the activity of representing its members with research and innovation, the association being a partner in 10 Horizon 2020 projects. The projects contribute to the widespread adoption of digitization by developing innovative solutions and new products capable of strengthening the European energy system to the development of an intelligent network with input of up to 100% energy from renewable sources: SUCCESS, RESERVE, WISEGRID, NRG5, CROSSBOW, SOGNO, PHOENIX, TRINITY, EDDIE and EDGEFLEX. The contribution of the association is recognized by the European Commission, which places CRE in the TOP 10 Romanian organizations that have benefited from European funding.

We are going through a period of great trials for humanity, and the health crisis and its economic effects leave a heavy legacy next year. Thus, CRE will develop the relationship with the members in the sense of elaborating a coherent plan of actions and events concretely dedicated to the needs and interests of each member.

Romanian energy has the potential, knowledge and resources needed to play a role of regional leader and the CRE association, through the energy diplomacy and representation activity it has developed, can attract, and connect with other regional players or associations aligned in terms of values ​​and objectives. In addition, building on the experience gained and using the opportunities generated by the current crisis, CRE can, for the benefit of its members, promote the Romanian energy industry at an extended regional level and play a role in regenerating past cooperative connections, reviving business relations that contribute to the development and strengthening of the energy business environment in Romania through partnerships and trade relations.

In relation to the European institutions, CRE has a recognized position, benefiting from the support of past Commissioners for Energy and Climate Kadri Simson, Miguel Arias Cañete and Günther Oettinger, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, and many others. Romanian and European politicians and diplomats. In developing this presence, CRE aims to use the beginning of the European mandate to strengthen existing relations, create new opportunities in the context of the response to the current health and economic crisis, and use both the position gained and the potential of the Romanian presence in the European Parliament. and the European Commission, as well as in other key institutions for industry.

At national level, CRE has always been a resource of competence and professionalism for the authorities. The presence in public debates on the general or specialized legal and regulatory framework will continue to be an essential objective for CRE, which it will play with honesty and balance in the future.

The year 2020 is marked by the health and economic crisis caused by the new coronavirus COVID-19, the CRE association making sustained efforts to promote solutions and measures for crisis management and identification of post-crisis recovery methods. Thus, we organized a series of webinars with members and partners of the association, which encouraged open dialogue between stakeholders and the presentation of good practices on crisis management measures and post-crisis recovery. CRE also coordinated the elaboration of a document aimed at short-term measures to manage the COVID-19 crisis as well as medium and long-term post-crisis recovery, an initiative involving the 10 most representative associations in the energy sector in Romania. The document, organized from the point of view of the entire national energy industry, was forwarded to all competent authorities.

The year 2021 will maintain the COVID-19 crisis management effort, intensify the dialogue between CRE members and competent authorities and seek to strengthen the pivotal role of the association, between member companies and national institutions, as well as a bridge between the national energy sector and European counterparts.

Of course, the multitude of challenges facing our industry brings a wide range of action options for each representative organization. However, a successful association must be pragmatic in promoting the legitimate interests of its members. The following years will represent for the associative environment in Romania the time of truth, the time of resolutions! The romantic period ends with the help of the crisis we are experiencing and only those organizations that have a capable and determined leadership will be able to correctly represent their members, and they will use in beneficial interests to the industry the affiliation to such associations.

(P)