Report: EUKI Regional Networking Event Southeast Europe

The event featured high-level panel discussions and specialised workshops where stakeholders from the three countries exchanged perspectives on advancing climate action and renewable energy initiatives. Building on the partners’ organisations experiences to regional decarbonisation and economic transformation, participants examined how coordinated efforts could strengthen implementation across national and regional contexts.

Official Opening: Cross-Border Cooperation Tackling a Cross-Border Challenge

In opening remarks, German Ambassador to Romania Dr. Peer Gebauer welcomed participants by emphasizing EUKI’s critical role in facilitating cross-border climate initiatives, noting that the climate crisis transcends national borders. Ambassador Gebauer highlighted how EUKI funded initiatives strengthen technological advances, stakeholder engagement activities, social justice in climate action, as well as climate education and sustainable economic practices. Since 2017, EUKI has fostered collaboration among 459 organisations from 31 European countries across 232 funded projects. Bulgarian Ambassador to Romania Radko Vlaykov reinforced this message, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation while drawing attention to the already visible climate change impacts affecting Southeast Europe. Radu Dudău, President and Co-founder of EPG, extended a warm welcome to the EUKI Community in Bucharest and emphasised the organisation’s growing presence in Romania and the broader Southeast European region through 28 on-going projects designed to accelerate climate action.

Panel Discussion: Balancing Decarbonisation and Competitiveness in Southeast Europe

Following the opening remarks, a high-level panel discussion examined “Balancing Decarbonisation and Competitiveness – The Role of EU Policies in Regional Economic Growth in Southeast Europe.” Mihnea Cătuți, EPG Executive Director, moderated the conversation, beginning with an analysis of the Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan implications for Southeast Europe.

Cristina Prună, Vice President of the Committee for Industry and Services, Chamber of Deputies, Romanian Parliament addressed Romania’s progress in reducing emissions in its energy sector, highlighting achievements like the coal phase-out law, offshore wind legislation, and increased renewable targets in the NECP. When asked about balancing energy security with affordability amid growing political resistance to decarbonisation, Prună emphasised the need for transparent dialogue and fiscal support mechanisms.

Dr. Rumyana Grozeva, Director of the Stara Zagora Regional Development Agency, provided insights from Bulgaria’s energy heartland Stara Zagora. She detailed the region’s transition challenges through the Just Transition Plan implementation and the development of the Industrial Zone Zagore as a carbon-neutral area. Dr. Grozeva specifically addressed union engagement strategies and reskilling opportunities critical for the region’s workforce as it navigates this fundamental economic transformation.

Ruxandra Dumitrescu, representing AHK Romania, discussed how German companies operating in Romania since the early 2000s view the energy transition. She highlighted AHK’s initiatives, including the “Cities of Tomorrow” events and study visits for Romanian officials to observe German best practices. Dumitrescu emphasised the essential role of business hubs in driving industrial transformation through shared resources and innovation across Southeast Europe. She particularly stressed the importance of regulatory predictability for the business community, noting that frequent adjustments to long-term decarbonisation goals create significant planning challenges for companies investing in the region.

Workshops: Discussion on future cooperation and Driving decarbonisation in SEE

Participants engaged in a series of interactive workshops, led by experts from the EUKI Community.

Kamelia Georgieva from the National Trust EcoFund (NTEF) facilitated a session examining how regional and local initiatives can function as models for national decarbonisation efforts. The workshop showcased successful practices and extracted valuable lessons learned from implementation challenges. This session emphasised the critical importance of providing support to both local and central authorities in sustainable policy implementation.

Corina Murafa from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE) guided a workshop on energy communities as a mechanism for promoting decarbonisation and enhancing civil society’s role in legislative processes. This session emphasised public participation strategies and created a platform for participants to exchange practical experiences in establishing effective energy communities.

Mihai Stoica from 2Celsius led a workshop on the EU Methane Emissions Regulation, where participants examined specific case studies of stakeholder engagement for coal and natural gas sectors. The workshop highlighted successful strategies for bringing industry operators, regulators, and local communities together to implement methane reduction measures. Participants explored how targeted communication approaches and technical assistance programs could help to overcome initial resistance to monitoring and abatement requirements in both sectors.

Kamen Simeonov from the Foundation Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect moderated a workshop on “Renovation for a Socially Just Decarbonisation of Buildings.” This session investigated strategies for making building renovations more affordable and accessible to low-income communities. Participants discussed inclusive financial models, equitable policy design, and methods for ensuring meaningful stakeholder engagement throughout the renovation process.

The wrap-up session, moderated by Alina Arsani, Head of the Energy Systems Programme at EPG, highlighted complementary approaches and synergies between the different workshops. It provided participants an opportunity to share reflections, ultimately reinforcing the importance of sustained cross-border, cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing shared climate challenges.

The event culminated in an EUKI Academy training session on “Effective Climate Action Communication.” Led by Sorin Cebotari, Strategic Communication Consultant with the European Climate Foundation, this hands-on workshop equipped participants with essential skills. Participants explored strategic approaches to narrative development, methods for identifying and engaging specific target audiences, and evidence-based techniques for addressing climate misinformation. This practical training complemented the day’s earlier discussions by providing actionable communication tools that participants could immediately apply to their regional climate initiatives.