Four funding schemes, with total allocations exceeding EUR1 billion, are available to transport operators in Romania in the coming period. The funds can be used to replace vehicle fleets, produce energy, purchase batteries for energy storage, or install charging stations for their own electric vehicles and for the public.
According to a REI Grup analysis, a number of four state aid schemes are available, one aimed at supporting investments in the purchase of zero-emission vehicles for road or freight transport, shipping, and waterways, one aimed at replacing energy-inefficient equipment, and another aimed at promoting infrastructure for zero-emission mobility in support of businesses and communities (e-MOVE RO) as well as the development of charging infrastructure on motorways, expressways, and national roads (e-Mobility RO), with a total allocation of over EUR1 billion for the four programs.
“Entrepreneurs operating in the logistics or transport sector have four ideal financing programs this fall to stimulate investment in this sector, particularly with regard to replacing existing fleets and outdated vehicle parks with electric models. This is one of the most significant allocations to date for this sector, and entrepreneurs are showing a great deal of interest, especially as it aims to streamline operations by integrating the purchase of electric vehicles with the installation of photovoltaic panels, batteries, and dedicated charging stations, which could bring considerable savings per kilometer traveled in the medium and long term,” said Roxana Mircea stated, managing partner of REI, a group of companies specializing in attracting non-reimbursable financing for companies operating locally.
1. State aid scheme – Support for investments in the purchase of zero-emission vehicles for road and rail freight transport, maritime and inland waterway passenger and freight transport
Total budget: EUR299 million / Average annual budget: EUR149.5 million
Heavy goods vehicles: EUR130 million
Rail freight vehicles: EUR90 million
Maritime and inland waterway passenger and freight vehicles: EUR79 million
Eligibility: projects falling under one of the following sub-measures are eligible:
– Sub-measure 1 – the purchase of heavy goods vehicles with a minimum gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tons, powered by an electric battery that can be charged and recharged only by connecting to an external source of electricity, in order to qualify as zero-emission vehicles;
– Sub-measure 2 – purchase of rail freight vehicles to qualify as zero-emission vehicles;
– Sub-measure 3 – the purchase of vehicles for maritime or inland waterway transport of passengers and goods, in order to qualify as zero-emission vehicles.
“Eligible costs are calculated as the difference between the investment costs for purchasing a zero-emission vehicle and the investment costs for purchasing a vehicle in the same category that complies with the applicable Union standards already in force and that would have been purchased without aid. Therefore, the vehicles for which funding will be requested must be new, while the investment costs must be reasonable, realistic (correctly estimated) and substantiated by two price offers. In addition, transporters must have a transport license and scrap a vehicle of the same weight, and an additional score will be awarded to applicants who have traveled more than 75% of the distance within Romania. The electric vehicle will also have to travel in Romania,” said Roxana Mircea added.
2. State aid scheme – Replacement of energy-inefficient machinery and equipment in the shipping and aviation sectors with zero-emission machinery and equipment, as well as vehicles providing ancillary services to rail and shipping, in order to qualify as zero-emission vehicles Total budget: EUR299 million / Average annual budget: EUR149.5 million
• Budget for sub-measure 1 – water and air transport – EUR200 million
• Budget for sub-measure 2 – services related to land transport (A) or water transport (B) – EUR99 million
A) Land transport support services = railway handling operations;
B) Services related to water transport = navigation, pilotage, towing, and docking.
Eligible NACE codes
• Sub-measure 1: NACE 5210, 5223, 5224, 5226;
• Sub-measure 2:
o Activities related to land and water transport: NACE 5221 and 5222;
o Railway handling operations: NACE 5221;
o Navigation, pilotage, towing, and docking: NACE 5222.
“There is no standard financing percentage under this scheme; we will undergo a competitive procedure, and each company will request what it considers to be a percentage of the investment value. Given that we will submit over 50 projects under this axis alone, we will be able to accurately estimate our chances if we request 80-90%”, Roxana Mircea added.
3. State aid scheme – Promoting zero-emission mobility infrastructure in support of businesses and communities (e-MOVE RO)
Total budget: EUR250 million
• Sub-measure 1 – installation of recharging infrastructure for both company fleets and public access – allocation: EUR101 million;
• Sub-measure 2 – installation of recharging infrastructure for both company fleets and the general public, including on-site production of electricity from renewable sources and renewable energy storage systems – allocation: EUR149 million.
Eligible investments:
• Sub-measure 1 – construction, installation, modernization, or expansion of recharging infrastructure, including the costs associated with the work to build the connection facility and the usage facility;
• Sub-measure 2 – construction, installation, modernization, or expansion of recharging infrastructure, as well as the on-site production of electricity from renewable sources, including the installation of renewable energy storage units.
4. State aid scheme – Development of charging infrastructure on motorways, expressways, and national roads (e-Mobility RO)
Total budget: EUR299 million
Beneficiaries: micro-enterprises, SMEs, and large companies
Grant: EUR30 million (max.)
The aim of the funding program is to install stations throughout the country so that the charging infrastructure serves the network of motorways, expressways, and main national roads administered by the National Road Infrastructure Administration Company, or at a distance of no more than 3 km by road from the nearest exit of a road that is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
“Integrating the purchase of electric vehicles with energy production, storage batteries, and charging stations is the ideal formula for the transition to electric vehicles. Even though we are going through a difficult period, we recommend that entrepreneurs apply for funding, even if only for one vehicle, as the actual range has reached 500-550 km out of a declared 700 km. In addition, the projects will be implemented in the second half of 2026, and if we also take into account the procurement procedures and delivery period, we will actually have them by the end of 2026 or, more likely, 2027. (…) Those who do not want to purchase them in 2026 will be able to postpone until 2027 or submit projects in call 2 and implement them by June 30, 2030, at the latest, but it is very important to secure funding. Projects can be completed by June 30, 2030, at the latest, so entrepreneurs have a long period of time available”, Roxana Mircea commented.
Over EUR800 million in European funds for entrepreneurs this fall
Entrepreneurs have over €800 million in grants available this fall for investments in several key sectors of the economy – with micro-enterprises, SMEs, and large enterprises all targeted for new investments, according to the REI analysis.
1. Just Transition – over EUR200 million for investments in Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Prahiva, Prahova, Galati or Mures counties
Businesspeople who own micro-enterprises in any county, with at least one fiscal year of activity, have a minimum of EUR30,000-50,000 and wish to develop a business in the counties of Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Prahova, Galați, or Mureș have access to over 200 million euros allocated through the Just Transition program this fall.
The Ministry of Investment and European Projects (MIPE) opened the project submission session on July 30, which will remain open until November 30, where micro-enterprises can access up to EUR300,000 to develop their businesses in the six counties.
Out of a total of over EUR200 million allocated under this scheme, the biggest support is given to Gorj county (over EUR49 million), followed by Hunedoara county – both investments in the region and dedicated to businesses in the Jiului Valley (over EUR48 million) and Dolj county (over EUR36 million). The top of the allocations is continued by Prahova (around EUR28 million), Galați (over EUR22 million) and Mures (EUR22 million) counties.
In addition to the Just Transition program for micro-enterprises in Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Prahova, Galati or Mures counties, entrepreneurs have at their disposal this fall numerous funding programs for investments with non-reimbursable support, including schemes for increasing energy efficiency, investment in innovation and technology, agriculture or the hotel sector and more.
Guesthouses, medical clinics, IT services, and manufacturing are among the most popular projects.
2. Horizon Europe – EUR300 M for investing in innovation and technology
➡️ Contracting authority: European Commission
➡️ Eligible beneficiaries: SMEs
➡️ Funding: EUR10-30 million / project
➡️ Allocation: EUR300 M (2025)
➡️ Status: call open until 16.12.2025
3. DR 16 – Investments in the vegetable and/or potato sector
➡️ Call status: final guide – July, project submission – November
➡️ Allocation: EUR151 M
➡️ Funding: max. EUR2 M / project, 65% non-reimbursable
➡️ Eligible applicants: farmers, excluding individuals, etc.
4. DR 23 – Investments in bakery, agricultural products, processing
➡️ Call status: final guide – July, project submission – November
➡️ Allocation: EUR150 M
➡️ Funding: max. EUR10 M / project, up to 60% non-reimbursable
➡️ Eligible applicants: SMEs, large enterprises
Over EUR650 million for city halls – investments in energy production and batteries
Local authorities have over €500 million available for the production of energy from renewable sources in conjunction with storage batteries, a program dedicated to local authorities that have not yet accessed funds to produce energy for their own consumption. The cost standard for 1 MW of photovoltaic energy is EUR1 million, and for photovoltaic energy plus storage, EUR1.3 million.
Furthermore, another EUR150 million is available for TAUs that have accessed funds for photovoltaic parks and now have the opportunity to install storage batteries to cover their public lighting costs. The maximum cost standard for one MWh is EUR400,000.
“This is an unmissable opportunity for mayors to streamline costs and reduce electricity costs by at least 60-70%. The guidelines were put out for consultation during September, and after November 1, we expect the Ministry of Energy to open the session on a first-come, first-served basis. We invite local authorities to prepare their projects and feasibility studies in advance and to have the documentation ready to submit their projects from day one,” Roxana Mircea concluded.
REI Finance Advisors SRL, REI International Consulting SRL and Touched Marketing SRL, part of REI Group, are companies specializing in the development, implementation and monitoring of investment projects both on non-repayable European funds (Regional Operational Program, Large Infrastructure Operational Program, PNDR) and state aid schemes.