Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare analyzed the data published today, February 13, by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and emphasized that it shows a “cyclical adjustment, in the context of the historical deficit and the measures taken last year, and real growth in Romania’s economy.”

“Romanians need balance and concrete facts, not false alarms. (…) Romania is not in an economic crisis. The statistical definition published today describes two consecutive quarters of seasonally adjusted GDP decline and is not a verdict on the economy. A real recession implies widespread deterioration—rapidly rising unemployment, a sharp decline in production, and a collapse in investment. And the current data does not indicate such a picture. The economy is slowing down, but it is not contracting. (…) A small but real increase – and this is the real message for Romanians, not false alarms spread in the public sphere without a complete analysis of the data and context. (…) Thus, in contrast to the alarmist information so readily propagated in the public sphere, we must emphasize that Romania is far from the most pessimistic of scenarios,” he pointed out in a message posted on his official Facebook page.

• The statistical definition published today describes two consecutive quarters of seasonally adjusted GDP decline and is not a verdict on the economy.
• A real recession implies widespread deterioration—rapidly rising unemployment, a sharp decline in production, and a collapse in investment. The current data does not indicate such a picture. The economy is slowing down, but it is not contracting.
• All the data presented today are the expected result of a natural adjustment of the economy, through responsible measures imposed by the context of a long period of budgetary slippage.
• In 2024, certain episodes of economic growth were achieved in parallel with a sharp deterioration in budgetary balances, through measures with a high fiscal impact.
• This artificial stimulation was not sustainable and generated additional pressure on public finances. In fact, INS data indicate declines in GDP in the first two quarters of 2024, with -0.4% and -0.4% compared to previous quarters.

PPC Renewables Romania, the largest private investor in renewable energy in Romania, will develop a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 60.12 MWh at the Sălbatica 1 wind farm. The project has a total value of RON 68.2 million, of which approximately RON 9.87 million will be covered by European funding through the Modernization Fund.

The project is part of PPC Renewables Romania’s plan to expand its renewable energy portfolio with projects that can help reduce Romania’s power generation capacity deficit and enhance system stability, through the predictable production profile ensured by battery energy storage, according to a press release sent to CaleaEuropeană.ro.

Located in the South-East Region, Valea Nucarilor administrative area, Tulcea County, the Sălbatica 1 and Sălbatica 2 wind farms comprise a total of 70 modern wind turbines of 2 MW each, evenly distributed between the two parks. Once commissioned, the BESS system will contribute to the development of electricity storage capacities within the National Power System and to increasing the flexibility and efficiency of energy produced from renewable sources.

In addition to the development of the storage system, the project includes the construction of the necessary infrastructure elements, development of operational roads, access and fencing, implementation of safety lighting and monitoring systems, as well as the arrangement of areas for operation, maintenance and security, and site organization.

The project benefits from financing through the Modernization Fund – Supporting investments in the development of electricity storage capacities (batteries) connected to an existing renewable energy generation facility. The total investment amounts to RON 68,225,209.57. The maximum amount covered by the Modernization Fund represents 28.24% of eligible costs, namely RON 9,872,978.54, while the contribution from PPC Renewables Romania amounts to RON 58,352,231.03.

The PPC Group is rapidly expanding its renewable energy portfolio in Greece, Romania, Italy, and Bulgaria, with installed capacity increasing from 4.7 GW in the first half of 2024 to 6.4 GW by the end of September 2025.

The PPC Group’s objective is to reach an installed renewable energy capacity of 12.7 GW by 2028. In Romania, PPC Renewables, part of the PPC Group, is a leader in the renewable energy sector, currently operating over 1.5 GW of installed capacity and continues to rapidly expand its portfolio through large-scale projects, being the largest private producer of renewable energy in Romania.

Romania’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) entails the alignment of public policies and institutional practices with the international standards promoted by the organisation, including in the field of international trade and export financing. In this context, Exim Banca Românească plays an essential role in integrating Romania into the OECD’s regulatory framework, acting as the national Export Credit Agency (ECA).

The OECD represents the main multilateral forum where rules governing officially supported export credits are negotiated, implemented and monitored, with the objective of ensuring a level playing field for exporters and promoting high standards of governance, transparency and sustainability. Within this framework, the Working Party on Export Credits and Credit Guarantees (ECG), a subsidiary body of the OECD Trade Committee, brings together member states and invited partners to coordinate policies and exchange best practices in the field.

Exim Banca Românească is the only financial institution in Romania fulfilling the role of export credit agency and participates, in this capacity, as an invitee in ECG meetings. Its activity has become particularly relevant in the OECD accession process through its responsibility to assume and implement the legal instruments specific to export credit activities included in the Accession Roadmap agreed with the Romanian authorities in 2022.

In this context, the institution has played a direct role in aligning with four key OECD instruments: the OECD Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits; the OECD Council Recommendation on Common Approaches for Officially Supported Export Credits and Environmental and Social Due Diligence; the OECD Recommendation on Bribery and Officially Supported Export Credits; and the OECD Recommendation on Sustainable Financing. The adaptation of Exim Banca Românească’s operational framework and internal policies has focused on integrating these standards into national practices, including the introduction of environmental and social impact assessments for export credits with longer maturities and the strengthening of anti-corruption risk prevention mechanisms.

A significant milestone in this process was the completion, in July 2025, of the OECD assessment of Exim Banca Românească’s activity, which evaluated the degree of convergence between the institution’s policies and practices and OECD standards. The review examined Romania’s capacity, through its export credit agency, to apply OECD legal instruments and ensure compatibility with international rules governing public support for exports.

Exim Banca Românească’s efforts form part of the broader process of closing the Trade chapter in Romania’s accession negotiations, a stage that requires endorsement from the relevant working groups within the OECD Trade Committee. In this respect, the institution’s role goes beyond its strictly financial dimension, contributing to strengthening Romania’s credibility as a predictable trade partner aligned with international rules on fair competition and responsible export financing.

At the same time, the experience gained at the European level and participation in OECD technical discussions have facilitated the rapid integration of international practices into the support provided to Romanian exporters. Through its financial and guarantee instruments, Exim Banca Românească facilitates companies’ access to complex international projects and contributes to enhancing their competitiveness on external markets, in line with the sustainability and transparency requirements promoted by the organisation.

Overall, Exim Banca Românească’s contribution illustrates the technical dimension of Romania’s OECD accession process, in which the harmonisation of sectoral policies and the adoption of international standards represent essential steps towards the country’s full integration into the organisation’s economic and trade mechanisms.

To date, Romania has been evaluated (either preliminarily or definitively) by 24 out of the 25 OECD sectoral committees. Of these, Romania has obtained 20 formal opinions from the following committees: the Committee of Senior Budget Officials, Regional Development Policy Committee, Steel Committee, Council Working Party on Shipbuilding, Competition Committee, Digital Policy Committee, Committee on Consumer Policy, Education Policy Committee, Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Committee, Regulatory Policy Committee, Health Committee, Fisheries Committee, Corporate Governance Committee, Committee for Agriculture, Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy, Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy, Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions, Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee, Environment Policy Committee, and Committee on Fiscal Affairs.

The latest three opinions were obtained at the beginning of 2026, the year in which Romania aims to complete its accession to the organisation.