The Financial Intelligence Awards Gala 2025 marked, on December 4, the 18th anniversary of Romania’s accession to the European Union and highlighted the country’s progress during this period.
Over the past 18 years, Romania has attracted more than €100 billion in non-reimbursable European funds—an unprecedented amount in the history of Romania’s public finances—according to an analysis by Europuls presented at the event.
Charles Michel, former President of the European Council, delivered an exclusive message to the Financial Intelligence Awards Gala 2025, addressing Europe’s challenges and the disruptions reshaping the global order. He emphasized that the European Union must become more resilient, more influential, and more in control of its own destiny. For too long, the EU has depended on China for cheap goods, Russia for cheap energy, and the United States for cheap security, Charles Michel underlined.
“In Europe, we sometimes suffer from what I call cognitive delay. Cognitive delay occurs when we are confronted with something we do not like and act as if it does not exist,” he added.
The Financial Intelligence Gala was opened by the Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, who received the Special Award for Supporting the Capital Market. On this occasion, he stressed the need for an economic model focused on quality, strategic investments, and the benefits of Romania’s accession to the OECD.
ANRE President George Niculescu praised the professionalism of the specialized economic press during the event, conveying his congratulations:
“You continue to deliver high-quality information when it would be much easier to give in to the temptation of sensationalism and breaking news. You persist in maintaining a high standard for your articles, both in the energy sector and in finance, and I wish you to continue doing so.”
Regarding 2026, the ANRE President stated that the priority remains maintaining a stable and predictable regulatory framework in a changing market, as support schemes come to an end and pricing mechanisms based on competition return:
“So I do not promise anything magical; I promise that we will continue to be an open dialogue partner, a facilitator of solutions, with doors open to all serious investors, fair and equitable regulations, and a healthy regulatory environment.”
