Romania and Sweden Discussed the Challenges and Opportunities of Implementing the New EU Battery Regulation in Bucharest

Bucharest, 12 May 2026 – The Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests of Romania, in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Bucharest and the Sustainable Living Podcast, organised the event “Romania – Sweden: Battery Recycling | Challenges and Opportunities”, the fourth expert exchange within the bilateral platform “Innovating Waste Management: Romania–Sweden Exchange”. The event took place in a hybrid format, both at the Ministry of Environment headquarters and online, bringing together a significant number of participants both onsite and online – representatives of Romanian and European authorities, compliance organisations, industry representatives, recyclers, collectors, experts, and key stakeholders active in the battery and circular economy sectors. 

The event was organised at a key moment for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries, with discussions focusing on the challenges and opportunities related to developing a functional circular battery system in Romania.

The event was moderated by Raul Pop, State Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, who opened the session together with Marit Braunschweig, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden in Romania. In their opening remarks, they highlighted the importance of cooperation between public authorities, industry, and European organisations in accelerating the implementation of the new European requirements and supporting the development of a modern and efficient battery management infrastructure.

During the session dedicated to Swedish and European perspectives, Moufida Mansouri, Senior Researcher, RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden, presented the institute’s activities and achievements in the field of battery recycling, with a focus on direct recycling technologies for lithium-ion batteries. Her presentation addressed separation and recovery processes for cathode and anode materials, the dismantling of different battery cell formats, and the challenges related to scaling these processes for practical and industrial applications.

Eric Ruyters, General Secretary, EUCOBAT, presented the main changes introduced by the new EU Battery Regulation, highlighting the transition from an approach focused exclusively on end-of-life battery management towards a framework covering the entire battery value chain – from production and traceability to recycling and the recovery of critical raw materials. He underlined the importance of harmonised implementation across Europe and the need for a level playing field among Member States.

Elena Gaspar Ion, President, SNRB, presented Romania’s implementation perspectives and challenges regarding the EU Battery Regulation, as well as three possible implementation scenarios, ranging from 2028 to 2031 depending on the pace of legislative and administrative processes. She stressed the importance of real cooperation between authorities, producers, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), collectors, and recyclers, as well as the need for phased implementation of certain key obligations in order to avoid bottlenecks and free-riding situations.

Zinaida Nazarenko, Relations and Development Director, EUCOBAT, addressed the practical challenges related to the implementation of the European regulation and the role of European organisations in facilitating dialogue between Member States and the European Commission. Her intervention highlighted the importance of best practice exchanges, technical working groups, and cooperation between industry and authorities to develop efficient and practical solutions.

One of the central topics of the event was the future EU Battery Passport, which will become mandatory from February 2027 for certain battery categories, including electric vehicle batteries, light means of transport batteries, and rechargeable industrial batteries. Participants discussed challenges related to data standardisation, interoperability of digital systems, traceability, and information exchange among stakeholders across the battery value chain.

During the Romanian perspectives session, Adrian Giurgiu, President of the Environment and Ecological Balance Committee, Chamber of Deputies, highlighted the need for a flexible and practical legislative framework capable of achieving environmental objectives without negatively affecting industry competitiveness. He emphasised that batteries should be regarded as strategic resources and sources of critical raw materials rather than simply waste.

Adrian Pop, State Secretary, MEDAT, addressed the technical and administrative challenges associated with implementing the new European requirements, including those related to the Battery Passport, traceability, and battery labelling. He stressed the importance of continuous dialogue between authorities, industry stakeholders, and the European Commission in clarifying technical aspects and developing practical solutions.

The discussions and Q&A session highlighted the complexity of implementing the new European requirements and the need to accelerate coordination between authorities and industry. Participants underlined the importance of rapidly designating competent authorities, developing efficient reporting and traceability mechanisms, organising regular coordination meetings, and supporting phased implementation for certain key obligations.

The 12 May event reconfirmed the growing interest in developing a functional and sustainable battery ecosystem in Romania and highlighted the importance of cooperation between Romania, Sweden, and relevant European organisations in supporting the European objectives related to circular economy, critical raw materials security, and the green transition.

The event is part of the “Voices for Circular Change” season of the Sustainable Living Podcast, a platform founded in 2021 in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Romania, which contributes to promoting dialogue and best practice exchange on circular economy and sustainability topics.