Romania forms committees for the selection of fresh leadership in the supervisory bodies of state-owned enterprises
Romania's ongoing appointment process for the leadership of the Agency for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Performance of Public Enterprises (AMEPIP) is of utmost importance, as it could unlock EUR 330 million in funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The European Commission has made it clear that the release of these funds is contingent on effective governance reforms within state-owned enterprises (SOEs), overseen by AMEPIP.
The initial leadership team, appointed in December 2023, faced criticism and resigned in July 2024 due to concerns over conflicts of interest and insufficient qualifications among the appointees. This led to EU pressure and the suspension of related payments. The Romanian government restarted the selection process in August 2025, aiming to meet EU standards and release the PNRR funds.
The selection process is being carried out through commissions created by an order signed by the General Secretariat of the Government. The role of AMEPIP, established under a bill introduced by former Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, is considered a key structural reform under the PNRR agreement between Romania and the European Union. AMEPIP operates under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister and the Secretary General of the Government.
The European Commission has withheld payment requests pending management depoliticization and improved transparency at AMEPIP. The resignation of the first leadership team followed criticisms from Brussels about conflicts of interest, especially around controversial appointments linked to political figures, which intensified institutional instability and increased the risk of losing the EUR 330 million funding.
The successful appointment of new leadership for AMEPIP is essential to restore the agency's credibility with European partners and unlock the pending PNRR payments. The forfeiture of these funds would be a significant financial loss for Romania, as the PNRR requires Romania to ensure proper governance of its SOEs.
The state-owned companies in Romania collectively generate hundreds of millions of euros in revenues, making their effective management crucial for the country's economic stability and growth. The ongoing AMEPIP appointment process is, therefore, a critical step towards ensuring Romania's compliance with the PNRR agreement and securing its continued receipt of EU funds.
[1] Economedia.ro, "AMEPIP: EU withholds payment requests pending management depoliticization and improved transparency," 15 August 2025. [2] Agerpres, "Government restarts the selection process for AMEPIP leadership," 1 August 2025. [3] Ziarul Financiar, "AMEPIP: New selection process aims to meet EU standards and release PNRR funds," 15 August 2025.
- To ensure the release of the EUR 330 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), it is crucial for the Romanian government to appoint a competent and non-politicized leadership team for the Agency for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Performance of Public Enterprises (AMEPIP), as their effective governance is essential to meet the agreed EU standards in business and finance.
- The successful appointment of new leadership for AMEPIP is not only significant for restoring the agency's credibility with European partners but also for the business and finance sector in Romania, as the effective management of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is vital for the country's economic stability, growth, and compliance with the PNRR agreement.
