In a solemn setting, rich in history and symbolism, the University of Petroșani hosted an event of major symbolic importance for the future of the mining basin. MEP Iuliu Winkler was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa (DHC), a moment that went beyond the boundaries of a simple academic ceremony, transforming into a genuine lesson in resilience, cohesion, and the destiny of a region undergoing a profound paradigm shift.

The ceremony was opened by the rector of the University of Petroșani, Prof. Univ. Dr. Eng. Radu Sorin Mihai, who read the Laudatio document. He emphasized that the distinction is not merely recognition of a public office, but of a strategic partnership that has helped the university remain relevant on the European education map.

“The University of Petroșani, upon the proposal of the Faculty of Economic, Administrative and Social Sciences, with the endorsement of the University Senate and after completing all legal, regulatory, and procedural stages, has today the privilege of delivering, with great honor, this Laudatio to support the awarding of the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Mr. Iuliu Winkler. This distinction is granted for his entire administrative activity and for promoting Romania and the University of Petroșani at European and global levels, as well as for the significant support provided in the development of student and academic mobility programs, with the aim of better understanding the European space,” stated Rector Radu Sorin Mihai.

Visibly moved by the solemnity of the moment, Iuliu Winkler donned the doctoral robe with the help of colleagues, confessing:

“It is indeed an emotional moment. It’s a good thing I had help putting on the robe.”

His acceptance speech, however, was marked by sharp clarity, avoiding the traps of sterile diplomatic language. Winkler chose to speak about the Transition from Coal, a process he defined above all as a “profoundly human” one.

Beyond Numbers: The Test of Solidarity

In the vision of the new Doctor Honoris Causa, the Jiu Valley is more than a statistical case study, but a community whose identity has been intertwined with mining for over a century.

“We must not fall into the trap of negativity, looking only at the empty side of the glass, nor into that of optimism built on statistical figures that embellish reality. It must be said from the outset that the transformation of the Jiu Valley is not a simple administrative exercise. It is a shift in economic, social, and identity paradigms, – a test of solidarity, institutional capacity, and above all, the resilience of a community that has lived for decades from mining,” declared Iuliu Winkler.

Mapping Support Instruments: From PHARE to Just Transition

The MEP’s analysis traced the chronology of European and national interventions. From pre-accession programs such as PHARE, which introduced project-based culture into local administrations for the first time, to the 1999 law on disadvantaged areas, Winkler highlighted how these mechanisms attempted to “bandage” the wounds left by the massive restructurings of the 1990s.

He acknowledged that, although instruments like SAPARD or ISPA had limited applicability in the mining basin, they helped prepare the ground for the major challenge of Romania’s accession in 2007.

Horizon 2032 and the “Age of Volatility”

A key point of the speech was the reference to the Strategy for Transition from Coal and the Action Plan adopted in 2025. With an indicative deadline set for 2032 for the closure of hard coal production, Winkler issued a warning regarding global instability.

“Global geopolitical transformations, the recurring energy crisis, ongoing disputes over resources, increasingly contested European policies—all these are elements of volatility that should make us cautious and attentive. The only certainty of this age of volatility is the need for resilience.”

The conclusion of the ceremony reaffirmed the role of the University of Petroșani not only as a place of education, but as a key driver of professional reconversion. By awarding this title, the institution strengthens its connection with the European Parliament, the place where funding mechanisms are decided that will shape the lives of the valley’s residents in the coming decades.

For Iuliu Winkler, the title of Doctor Honoris Causa represents a renewal of his commitment to Hunedoara County, at a time when “resilience” is no longer an academic term, but a condition for the economic survival of the Jiu Valley.

 

Originally published in Romanian  for www.servuspress.ro
Written by Cosmin Baciu – https://bit.ly/4m0uBw4