Green energy must become an opportunity to innovate intelligently and competitively, not an ideological leitmotif under whose eyes we destroy the industry, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja says.

He participated in the Security Forum in Warsaw, one of the most prestigious global events dedicated to debates on current issues on the scene of international relations.

„This year, for the first time, energy was treated as a dimension of the concept of state security. I started the day with an interview for WSF TV, followed by a discussion in a ministerial panel about the common vision regarding energy security in Central and Eastern Europe, together with fellow ministers and secretaries of state from Poland, Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova and Belgium. We opened this first ministerial panel, bringing into discussion the energy security of Europe, which today represents the premise of our freedom and that of our brothers from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. I continued with a ministerial dialogue with colleagues from Finland, Belgium, the Republic of Moldova and Poland, where I emphasized that the founding fathers of the European Union wanted us to become a single market. Today, the energy sector is not yet a single market, there are different prices for electricity between the West and the East, just as there are different visions regarding the concept of energy independence in relation to the Russian Federation. I was very excited. Romania does not and will never need Russian gas. This is the way for Europe as well. Only united, the European Union will be able to become an energy power. We, Europeans, should not compete with each other. The stake is much higher: to guarantee the free world we live in today in the Union. For this, we must be aware that energy in Europe must first be safe, then cheap, accessible and only lastly green. For Europe, green energy must become an opportunity to innovate intelligently and competitively, not an ideological leitmotif under the eyes of which we destroy the industry”, the minister wrote on Facebook on Tuesday evening.

He emphasized that he also had bilateral discussions with Christopher Bolesta, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Poland, about the continuation of a bilateral working group on common energy issues. He also discussed the investments for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

„Furthermore, we participated in a series of executive dialogues that addressed the future of the Green Deal after the European elections in 2024. Among the participants were also important representatives, such as Finnish Minister Kai Mykkanen and Cristina Pereteatcu, Secretary of State from the Republic of Moldova. We discussed common strategies for the energy transition and the security of critical infrastructure,” added Burduja.

In the afternoon, the Romanian minister of Energy had bilateral meetings with representatives from Siemens and Lockheed Martin, during which he discussed strategic energy projects and defense technologies for the energy sector.

„Also, the meetings with Pierre Heilbronn, High Representative of President Macron for the reconstruction of Ukraine, and Daniel Fried, former US ambassador to Poland, provided the opportunity to explore possibilities of support for Ukraine in the context of energy security and post-conflict reconstruction. During the meeting with the representatives of the Qemetica company, we discussed the development plans of the company in Romania, with an emphasis on the opportunities for the development of the petrochemical sector with added value”, Burduja also wrote on the social network.

According to him, the day ended with a discussion with the Minister of Energy from Belgium, Tinne Van der Straeten, on the topic of bilateral cooperation in the field of clean energy, as well as with an official dinner hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski.

„These meetings and discussions underline Romania’s commitment to be a central actor in ensuring energy security in Europe and in supporting common initiatives for a sustainable energy future. I would like to especially thank Mr. Ambassador of Romania to Poland, Cosmin Onisii, for the support given during the participation in the Warsaw Security Forum. The collaboration and the impeccable organization facilitated the meetings we had today, thus contributing to the strengthening of diplomatic and energy relations between Romania and Poland”, Sebastian Burduja said.

AGERPRES