Important government leaders, international experts, and prominent representatives of companies and academia in the energy sector will gather at the 18th edition of the Central and Eastern European Regional Energy Forum – FOREN 2026, themed “SECURE, SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE,” to analyze and identify current and future opportunities and challenges facing the energy sector.

A traditional biennial event with a recognized reputation in the field, organized by the Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council Association (CNR-CME), with the support of the World Energy Council (WEC), FOREN is considered one of the most important events for Romania’s energy community and holds the status of a WEC regional event for Central and Eastern Europe.

Highlighting the necessity and importance of the Forum, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ion LUNGU, President of CNR-CME, stated: ”FOREN 2026 responds to real needs for analysis and debate regarding the state of the energy sectors in the Central and South-Eastern European region and for identifying cooperation solutions in the energy field. Discussing these topics is all the more relevant as challenges are intensifying and becoming more complex amid the multiple difficulties faced by the region’s energy sectors, the transformation of the overall development landscape, and its impact on markets, energy users, and people’s quality of life. In this context, cooperation among countries is crucial in addressing many of the challenges ahead of us, and FOREN 2026 represents an ideal platform for information exchange, solution identification, collaboration, sharing of experience and best practices among experts from countries in the region, advancing solutions, and business meetings that are so necessary during this period.”

In turn, the Executive General Director of CNR-CME, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ștefan GHEORGHE, emphasized: ”The Regional Energy Forum – FOREN 2026 represents for the Romanian and regional energy community a continuation of the traditional path that this regionally important event has developed over time. We are pleased to invite you to FOREN 2026, which will address extremely topical subjects and where you will have the opportunity to interact with some of the most important economic and political decision-makers and specialists from the energy sector in Romania and Europe.”

FOREN 2026 includes a wide range of events covering topics of major national and international interest:

• 11 discussion panel sessions;
• Corporate-level Round Tables;
• 4 Technical Paper Sessions (TPS), the Poster Session, and the International Exhibition, officially opening on Sunday, June 14, 2026, between 11:00–12:30.

The OFFICIAL OPENING SESSION of FOREN 2026 will take place on Sunday, June 14, 2026, between 14:30–17:30 at the Neptun International Conference Center and will be hosted by Prof. Dr. Eng. Ion LUNGU, President of CNR-CME.

The personalities who have confirmed their attendance at the Opening Session so far include:

• H.E. Adnan AMIN – President of the World Energy Council;
• Dorin JUNGHIETU – Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova;
• Ioan DUMITRACHE – Secretary General of the Romanian Academy;
• Sandor BENDE – President of the Committee for Industries and Services of the Chamber of Deputies, Romanian Parliament;
• George NICULESCU – President of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE);
• Tudor CONSTANTINESCU – Principal Adviser to the Director-General, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission;
• Lazăr COMĂNESCU – Ambassador, Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC PERMIS).

In addition, short keynote addresses during the Opening Session will be delivered by decision-makers from major energy industry operators:

• Ondrej SAFAR – CEO, Evryo;
• Alexandru CHIRIȚĂ – CEO, Electrica SA;
• Mihai PEȘTE – General Manager, Rețele Electrice România;
• Volker RAFFEL – General Director, E.ON Romania;
• Ion STERIAN – General Director, S.N.T.G.N. Transgaz S.A.;
• Cosmin GHIȚĂ – CEO, SN Nuclearelectrica SA;
• Maria BOLDOR – Managing Director, Horváth Romania.

On Monday, June 15, 2026, the “RED – Regional Energy Day” will take place under the theme “Regional Energy Highways: Electrons & Molecules,” featuring participants such as:

• Valeriu BINIG – Scientific Adviser, CNR-CME;
• Gabriel ANDRONACHE – Vice President, ANRE;
• Dan DRĂGAN – Energy Expert;
• Agustin DELGADO MARTIN – Chair for the Europe Region, World Energy Council;
• Gianfranco CHICCO – Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin;
• Mihaela MIHĂILESCU – Associate Director, Deputy Head Romania, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
• Miltiades BABILIS – Chief E-mobility Officer, PPC Group;
• Virgiliu IVAN – Director of the National Energy Dispatch Center;
• Ionuț TĂNĂSOAICA – General Manager, Electromontaj;
• Sorin GAL – Expert, ANRMPSG;
• Alexandru SĂNDULESCU – EU Senior Adviser in the Energy Sector;
• Octavian CIOBIRICĂ – Deputy General Director, Director of the Policy Development Department, Moldelectrica, Republic of Moldova;
• Oleh PAVLENKO – Chief Investment Officer and Member of the Supervisory Board, NPC Ukrenergo;
• David KUBIN – Director, IIoT Customer Management Department, WIKA.

The 8 FOREN 2026 sessions will address topics including:

• Adapting the energy sectors of regional countries to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges;
• Integrated national energy and climate plans, taking into account the Energy Trilemma;
• Integration of biofuels and green hydrogen into the future energy mix beyond fossil fuels;
• Energy market transformation: regulation and decentralization;
• Adapting human resources to the requirements of the energy industry in the digital era;
• New technologies in the energy transition, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and demand flexibility;
• Development of electricity and gas networks within the energy transition;
• The role and challenges of nuclear energy in the evolving energy landscape.

More than 100 renowned speakers, including ministers, leaders of the energy industry, experts and researchers, regulators, distinguished academic figures, and representatives of non-governmental organizations from Romania and abroad, will seek to provide answers to acute technical issues facing the regional energy industry during the main events, moderated by renowned personalities from academia, companies, and professional organizations from Romania and abroad. In addition, a large number of distinguished specialists will present technical-scientific papers during the technical communication and poster sessions.

FOREN 2026 is organized under the patronage of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, with the support of CNR-CME partners, academies, universities, and media partners.

Additional information can be obtained from the forum website, FOREN, or from the Executive Secretariat of CNR-CME. The FOREN 2026 timetable extract is attached.

The Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council Association (CNR-CME) comprises the largest national network of energy specialists and is the leading energy organization in Romania, being a founding member of the World Energy Council since 1924. CNR-CME is a professional, apolitical, non-governmental, non-profit organization that brings together the interests of various Romanian institutions and organizations concerned with energy issues and their relationship with the economy and the environment, as well as specialists and civil society.