Abstract:

The European Green Deal, adopted in 2019, marked a pivotal moment in the EU’s strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This paper examines how these ambitious objectives have influenced the acceleration of the green transition, focusing on Romania’s progress within this framework. Our research first analyzes the concept of ‘green transition’ as defined by European authorities, drawing on recent EU reports and academic literature. The second part compares Romania’s achievements with other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, given their shared historical and socio-economic context. Using relevant European statistics and Green Deal indicators, we assess Romania’s progress and identify key challenges through a SWOT analysis. The study's limitations include the unavailability of 2023 data for some indicators and potential geopolitical disruptions that could hinder green transition efforts.