The government approved on Friday a two-year extension of Romania's observer status within the Extreme Light Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ELI ERIC).

At the same time, the conditions for Romania's potential accession as a member will be evaluated, according to a statement from the Government Press Office.

'The measure reflects Romania's objective to capitalize on the investments made at Magurele, to strengthen the participation of the Romanian research community in European research and innovation projects, and to maintain active, long-term participation in the European ELI infrastructure,' the Government stated.

ELI ERIC is the European research infrastructure dedicated to the use of extreme-intensity light. Romania has participated in ELI ERIC since 2024 as a founding observer, a status that expires at the end of the year.

'Romania's participation in ELI ERIC is particularly significant given the role of the Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) facility in Magurele—the Romanian component of the European ELI infrastructure, implemented and operated by the 'Horia Hulubei' National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH). Romania's continued involvement in ELI ERIC paves the way for fostering international scientific cooperation, strengthening ties between ELI-NP and other ELI facilities, exchanging expertise and best practices, developing joint research programs, and identifying new opportunities for cooperation and funding in the fields of research and innovation,' the statement explains.

The Government has approved the continuation of the necessary steps for the National Authority for Research to pay Romania's financial contribution to ELI ERIC for the period during which Romania holds the status of founding observer (2024-2026), using state budget funds allocated to the Ministry of Education and Research.

In accordance with the ELI ERIC Statutes, an observer contributes a fixed fee of EUR 250,000 per year during the initial operational phase.

At the same time, the reactivation of the inter-institutional coordination group regarding Romania's participation in ELI ERIC was approved. Presidential Advisor Sorin Costreie was reconfirmed as the special representative for coordinating, at the national level, the efforts regarding Romania's participation in ELI ERIC.

'To ensure Romania's representation within the Consortium's relevant bodies, Mr. Mihnea Costoiu—Rector of the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest—was designated to represent the Ministry of Education and Research, alongside a representative from the National Authority for Research. The extension of observer status will allow Romania to analyze and negotiate the financial, legal, institutional, and governance conditions for potential accession as a host country member, based on an assessment of the benefits and obligations associated with this status,' the Government stated. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Irinela Visan;EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)

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