Energy Community Summer School 2024: A Week of Learning and Collaboration in Chisinau, Moldova

The opening weekend offered participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Moldova, starting with a visit to the historic MIMI Castel. This renowned cultural and creative hub, which hosted the second summit of the European Political Community in June 2023, has become a symbol of Moldova's growing prominence in European affairs. As Moldova advances from an EU candidate country to the formal start of accession negotiations, it is working to diversify its energy portfolio, enhance autonomy from autocratic regimes, and lead on advancing a sustainable, green agenda.

Participants also visited Vestmoldtransgaz, a pioneering natural gas transport company in Chisinau, where they learned about maintenance protocols, gas transport methods, and the operational challenges faced by the company. The visit underscored the need to recognize the unique challenges that each country and company confronts in the energy sector. As Europe seeks to develop collective solutions to these challenges, a deep understanding of regional contexts is essential.

The Energy Community Summer School’s formal program featured thematic days focused on different dimensions of the energy sector: technical, economic, political, legal, and sustainability. The week began with a focus on the technical aspects of energy, led by experts such as Carolina Novac, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy of Moldova, Dennis Hesseling, Head of the Gas, Coal & Power Markets Division at the International Energy Agency, and Oana Langa, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy. Discussions centered on the technological advancements and infrastructure needs crucial to ensuring stable energy supplies.

The second day delved into the economics of energy markets. Experts from the European Energy Exchange, the Florence School of Regulation, and Magnus Energy provided a comprehensive introduction to energy markets and European energy market integration. The afternoon sessions focused on the economic potential of renewable energy, with Siemens presenting a case study on how the renewable industry can be transformed to meet future needs.

Hungarian participant Zsófia Bekker, 25, highlighted the value of these discussions: 

“I especially enjoyed the summer school in Chisinau because beyond the high quality of the program, we also got to meet brilliant colleagues. The opportunity to discuss lecture materials during coffee breaks with speakers and other attendees—many coming from contracting party countries—really deepened my understanding of the region's energy challenges in achieving a green and just transition. It was seven days of non-stop conversations about energy, energy law, and geopolitics, and I loved that.”

The geopolitical significance of energy was at the heart of the third day's discussions. Moldova served as a powerful case study, illustrating how the country has navigated the energy crisis in the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This day laid the foundation for understanding the vital role energy policy plays in maintaining political stability and security.

The final days of the program covered the legal and sustainability dimensions. Participants examined regulatory frameworks essential to energy market governance, alongside discussions on how the future of the energy sector can align with global sustainability goals. Speakers and attendees explored strategies to ensure the energy sector supports the economy, protects the environment, and serves the needs of people.

As a partner of the Energy Community Summer School, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES SOE) underscored its commitment to fostering socio-ecological transformation in the Southeast European region. We emphasized the importance of bringing together experts from different disciplines to foster cross-sector partnerships.  It is an honor and a privilege to be a partner in a program that is developing the next generation of energy leaders. Our mission is to encourage a horizontal approach to the energy field, one that balances economic prerequisites, climate action, and the well-being of people.

The Energy Community Summer School in Chisinau was not just a platform for knowledge-sharing but a space for future leaders to collaborate, debate, and build partnerships that will shape Europe's energy future.