Capacity-building workshop in Bucharest on environmental co-existence of offshore wind
4 Capacity-building workshops in Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Poland engaged key policy-makers and experts, addressing specific topics related to offshore wind: regulatory set-up, environmental co-existence, grid, infrastructure and industrial development, and maritime spatial planning.
Energy Policy Group (EPG) organised a capacity-building workshop was held on 8 February 2024. The special focus of the discussion was on environmental co-existence. The event featured Cristina Pruna, Vice-president of the Industries and Services Committee at the Romanian Parliament, Alexander Simidchiev, Member of the Bulgarian Parliament, Ana Miljanović Rusan and Deni Aguilar Bellamy from the Renewable Grid Initiative, Vlad Rădulescu from GeoEcoMar and Liviu Gavrila from RWEA.
The participants discussed that a sound public policy design and legislation, well-coordinated marine planning and permitting procedures can ensure reliable environmental protection and geological-geophysical data. They agreed that highlighting the concrete benefits of offshore energy by the local communities can enhance the social acceptance of capital-intensive and complex offshore energy investments. There was a particular focus on the options for establishing fair auctioning procedures without endangering the goals of the EU environmental law.