TheMarketForIdeas

Bucharest University of Economic Studies (Romania)

Metropolitan University Prague (Czech Republic)

Poznan University of Economics and Business (Poland)

Université de Bordeaux (France)

At a time when the debate surrounding the green transition oscillates between strategic urgency and immediate economic cost, sustainable finance has long since outgrown its status as a niche topic confined to public policy circles or academic discussions. From the European taxonomy, ESG regulations and climate finance to the redefinition of the role of banks, investments and fiscal policies, sustainable finance has become one of the major intellectual and institutional challenges of our time. For some, it represents an unavoidable necessity in a world increasingly confronted with climate, energy and social pressures; for others, the pace and costs of the transition raise legitimate questions regarding economic competitiveness, energy security and the social sustainability of the proposed transformations. Precisely for this reason, such a topic calls for discernment, critical thinking and interdisciplinary dialogue.

In this broader context, Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) provide a distinctive academic framework: flexible, international and deeply interactive. They create the conditions for meaningful encounters between different perspectives, diverse academic traditions and complementary economic experiences, in a format that successfully combines online collaboration with face-to-face debate. Organized under the auspices of Bucharest University of Economic Studies, through the Faculty of Finance and Banking, the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme “Sustainable Finance Unfolded: When Classic Banking Aligns with Environmental Goals”, held in Predeal between May 11-15, 2026, brought together academics and students from partner universities in Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and France in a shared reflection on how contemporary financial systems attempt to reconcile the logic of economic efficiency with the imperatives of sustainable development.

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Lecturer Luminița TATARICI, PhD

Faculty of Finance and Banking, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania

“During the first session we explored the concept of climate risks and the implications for the financial system. Starting from the definition of climate related financial risks and their transmission channels, we analysed how a monitoring framework is constructed for financial stability purposes. We moved in the second session to the concept of sustainable finance in the larger context of the European Union Sustainable Finance Transition Plan, the challenges and benefits associated to it, as well as the current developments.”

Associate Professor Andreea-Ileana CURMEI-SEMENESCU, PhD

Faculty of Finance and Banking, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania

“We explored the theme of Corporate social responsibility in banks, starting with the theoretical foundations and continuing with how to construct a CSR strategy integrated into the corporate mission and marketing strategy. We also tackled the complexity of CSR strategy in global value chains and the twin transformation in banks – digitalization and innovation doubled by CSR.”

Professor Andreea-Maria STOIAN, PhD

Faculty of Finance and Banking, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania

“Financial Planning: more green please! – this course presents the main principles of personal financial planning, focusing on budgeting, cash-flow management, saving, investing, insurance, liquidity management, and retirement planning. It explains how individuals can manage their finances similarly to a CFO by setting financial goals, monitoring expenses, planning for major purchases, and making informed financial decisions while considering risks, taxation, and behavioural biases. The course also emphasizes sustainable and responsible financial behaviour, encouraging students to align financial decisions with long-term personal and environmental values.

Green Public Spending and Green Taxes – this course presents the main concepts of sustainable development and sustainable finance, emphasizing the role of governments and public finance in supporting environmental and social objectives. It discusses the evolution of sustainable development policies, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal, as well as key EU climate regulations such as the European Climate Law and the Fit for 55 Package. The course also explains environmental taxes, green public spending, environmental subsidies, and investments in environmental protection, highlighting how fiscal policies and financial systems can encourage sustainable economic behaviour and support the transition toward a climate-neutral economy.”

Associate Professor Filip IORGULESCU, PhD

Faculty of Finance and Banking, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania

“Managing Personal Investments: Can I Make a Difference? – this is a lecture that provides a strategic framework for wealth creation through sustainable and impact-driven investing. It bridges traditional asset classes with ‘green’ financial instruments emphasizing that risk tolerance and diversification play a key role in capital allocation decisions. Furthermore, it explores ‘impact investing’, aiming to empower individuals to take control of their financial future while contributing to a sustainable global economy.”

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Beyond technical concepts, European policies or financial instruments, this BIP experience highlighted something perhaps even more important: the need for a lucid, balanced and open academic dialogue regarding contemporary economic transformations. Sustainable finance is not merely a succession of regulations, indicators or fiscal mechanisms, but also the expression of a broader shift in the relationship between economy, society and long-term responsibility.

Through this international initiative, the Faculty of Finance and Banking, within the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, reaffirms the commitment to an academic vision grounded not in dogmatic adherence or predetermined formulas, but in intellectual rigor, critical thinking and openness to the plurality of economic and social perspectives. In a European and global environment marked by uncertainty, tensions and accelerated transformations, the university remains one of the few spaces where complex issues such as sustainability can still be approached in a nuanced, responsible and genuinely formative manner.