Romania remains an attractive market in the region due to its size, growth potential, and substantial infrastructure investment needs. Its central positioning gives it the potential to become a hub from multiple perspectives. Costs are still competitive, and demand for energy and modern services is increasing.
From your perspective, how attractive is Romania today compared to other Central and Eastern European markets when allocating capital and investments?
Legislative and fiscal predictability is lower than in some other CEE markets. Investors constantly compare stability and the speed of administrative decisions—that is, the level of bureaucracy, state pressure through various unbalanced market interventions, and the degree of consultation with the private sector in key decision-making processes. If these aspects improve, Romania can become one of the region’s key destinations.
How do you assess Romania in terms of cost competitiveness relative to productivity and value creation?
As mentioned earlier, Romania remains cost-competitive, but this advantage is sustainable only if accompanied by investments in productivity, technology, and professional skills.
We already see higher value-added industrial and service projects supported by a skilled workforce, as well as progress in digitalization. However, the skills gap and migration of qualified labor may erode this advantage if not addressed through public policies and appropriate training programs. Therefore, progress in technical skills and digitalization must be accelerated.
It should also be noted that the cost gap compared to other countries is gradually narrowing. For investors, cost alone is not decisive—productivity and stability matter as well. Value creation increasingly depends on modern infrastructure and efficient processes. Therefore, Romania must shift its focus from low cost as a primary attraction factor to performance, innovation, and competitiveness.
What are the top three factors that most influence your investment decisions in Romania: regulation, infrastructure, talent (workforce), taxation, or market size?
For German investors—and not only them—predictability of the legal framework is the decisive factor. Second comes the quality and availability of the workforce. Infrastructure, especially energy and transport infrastructure, ranks third.
Taxation is also very important, but stability, clarity of rules, and how balanced they are matter more than the tax level itself.
Romania’s EU and NATO membership, its market of over 19 million consumers, and its geostrategic position on the Black Sea and the EU’s eastern border remain undeniable advantages, as they determine whether these strengths can be leveraged safely and sustainably.
At the same time, access to European funds and the prospect of OECD accession create additional financing and regulatory standardization potential—but this potential can only materialize if there are sufficiently well-trained professionals, both in companies and in public administration.
For the company I lead and for the German investors I represent at AHK level, investment decisions are made at the intersection of these three pillars—predictable and balanced legal framework, modern infrastructure, and competitive workforce—within the security and stability framework provided by the EU, NATO, and future OECD membership.
How could public authorities better support large investors and strategic industries?
The answer is simple: through long-term legislative stability, genuine consultation before major changes, and radical simplification of bureaucracy—for example, in permitting and approval procedures or in the inappropriate application of public procurement law to listed companies.
There is also a need for a strategic approach to critical sectors such as energy and infrastructure. Equally important is ensuring coherent coordination among ministries, regulatory authorities, and local administrations.
Reducing bureaucracy, enabling rapid access to European funds, and introducing adequate and predictable support schemes would accelerate investment. Public-private partnerships must become a real practice, not just an intention.
What should Romania change in education or workforce policies to better align with business realities?
Education must be more closely aligned with economic needs, particularly in technical and energy fields. Expanding dual education is one of the most effective solutions in this regard. Companies like E.ON are willing to engage in such initiatives—and already do—but need greater openness. Recent legislative changes affecting dual education are a negative example, as they impose a four-year duration even where there is content for only three.
Reskilling the workforce for the energy and digital transition is also essential. We need a society more friendly to children—because the economy ultimately depends on people—as well as a reduction in school dropout rates in Romania.
How confident are you in Romania’s economic outlook for 2026–2030?
The economic outlook for the coming years is positive, but firmly conditioned on the success of reforms and stability. Romania benefits from European funds and significant modernization needs. If public investments are implemented efficiently, economic growth—even significant growth—is possible.
The key will be Romania’s ability to fully absorb the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the future SAFE program, which alone could contribute several percentage points to GDP growth by 2030 if implemented without blockages.
At the same time, the treatment of companies successfully implementing investments under the Modernization Fund must urgently improve. I am referring to the sudden and significant reduction of remuneration granted by ANRE and major payment delays by the Ministry of Energy, which block the entire process and endanger already planned investments worth billions of lei.
The main risks remain the budget deficit and legislative uncertainty. Investors closely monitor fiscal discipline and policy coherence.
Over the next decade, Romania needs electricity network investments two to three times higher than current levels—including beyond European funds—amounting to approximately €1.1 billion extra per year. Studies show these investments are not just costs; they can generate up to €10 billion annually for the economy through jobs, budget revenues, and more competitive energy.
Infrastructure investment impacts the entire economy—industry, IT, construction, agriculture, and real estate. For energy-intensive sectors, the cost and predictability of electricity and gas are critical.
If networks are modern, with faster permitting and cheaper grid connections, Romania can reindustrialize its economy and develop new projects with more competitive and secure energy.
Where do you see the biggest growth opportunities in this period?
The biggest growth opportunities lie in the energy transition (renewables, smart grids, storage), technology-based reindustrialization, and the digital economy (software, support services, R&D centers).
Romania’s geographic position and full Schengen access strengthen its potential as a logistics and industrial hub for European supply chains.
Digitalization and automation of public and industrial services can generate significant investment. Energy efficiency and electrification of consumption also have strong growth potential.
Overall, the energy transition represents the greatest economic opportunity of the coming years.
What investment priorities will define your company’s strategy in Romania over the next 3–5 years?
Our priorities focus on modernizing and digitalizing networks to integrate increasing volumes of renewable energy, support electrification of transport and heating, and ensure long-term security and quality of supply for all consumers.
In supply activities, our objective remains unchanged: to offer customers the most advanced energy solutions and services available on the market at competitive prices, while maintaining the highest quality standards.
All these investments depend on a stable and predictable regulatory framework.
What should Romania’s economic strategy prioritize to remain competitive over the next decade?
The strategy must prioritize infrastructure, energy, strengthening education and future-industry skills, and a stable, simple, and digitalized fiscal framework. Only in this way can Romania remain competitive in a region where Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary compete for the same investors and value chains.
Romania must attract investment in high value-added industries, not just cost-based activities. Efficient use of European funds is decisive, but the speed and success of absorption are key.
We welcome recent road investments, but highways across the Carpathians and new bridges over the Danube are still needed. Connectivity boosts economic activity and integrates regions into value chains. We therefore welcome the development of the Moldova Highway (A7) and look forward to further infrastructure developments connecting Romania more easily to the rest of Europe.
What three reforms would have the greatest positive impact on business confidence?
(1) Administrative reform and full digitalization of interaction with the state;
(2) Simplification and long-term stabilization of the fiscal framework;
(3) Acceleration of investments in energy and transport infrastructure.
These measures would send a clear signal of stability and seriousness. Investor confidence increases when rules are clear and consistently applied.
Which industries could realistically become Romania’s strategic champions by 2030?
Energy—especially renewables and grid infrastructure—could become a major strategic sector. The Neptun Deep project will transform Romania into the largest natural gas producer in the European Union, benefiting both households and industries such as petrochemicals.
Romania also has significant potential in R&D and IT, supported by strong universities, well-trained specialists, and access to European funding. However, stronger links between academia and industry are needed to turn research into practical applications.
The automotive sector, including electric mobility components, also holds strong potential despite ongoing transformation. Modern agriculture and food processing can become more competitive through investment. The defense and logistics sectors are also showing strong momentum. The key is integration into European value chains.
If you were advising decision-makers tomorrow, what single message would you deliver?
My single message would be: focus on stability, execution, and honoring commitments. Do not change the rules during the game, and maximize the use of European funds for infrastructure, energy, and defense.
If Romania offers predictability and completes already financed projects, German, Romanian, and international capital will continue to invest and remain long-term. Over 95% of the companies from which we procure products, services, and works for our investments are local, and the infrastructure created remains in Romania.
Stability creates investment. Investors do not ask for special privileges, but for clear, balanced, and consistently applied rules. Romania has significant economic potential and strong interest from German capital—but a fair framework benefits the entire economy, including Romanian capital. If policies are coherent and long-term oriented, investments will naturally follow.
About E.ON Romania
The German E.ON Group is one of the leaders of the energy market, with a consolidated presence in Romania for 21 years. Its flagship companies, Delgaz Grid and E.ON Energie Romania, carry out electricity and natural gas distribution for over 3.6 million customers and energy supply and solutions for around 3.5 million customers.
Since entering the Romanian market, E.ON has invested over €2.7 billion, mainly in network modernization. Contributions paid to the state and local budgets amount to €4.2 billion.