The Institute for Financial Studies, having as institutional partner the Financial Supervisory Authority, is pleased to invite you to the European Conference of Financial Services – ECFS 2026, FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND THE MATURATION OF FINANCIAL MARKETS ADAPTED TO OECD ACCESSION CRITERIA, 10th Edition, taking place on March 19–20, 2026, in Brașov, at Hotel Kronwell.
The event brings together professionals from the financial sector, academia, and regulatory authorities who will debate topics such as:
- The role of financial education in strengthening the financial market;
- Aligning financial markets with OECD standards and best practices;
- The maturation of financial markets and strengthening trust in the financial sector;
- Adapting financial markets to governance, transparency, and financial inclusion criteria.
This year’s topics include, among others:
- Financial education – an essential condition for Romania’s convergence with OECD standards
- Consumer protection and alternative dispute resolution
- Governance and transparency: OECD benchmarks for stable financial markets
- The maturation of non-banking financial markets: insurance, capital markets, and private pensions
- Human capital and financial skills for advanced economies
- Romania in the OECD context: strategic directions and confirmation of progress
Organizing Committee
Prof. PhD Marian SIMINICĂ, University of Craiova; Executive Director, Institute of Financial Studies, Bucharest
Cătălin CÂMPEANU, Secretary General, Institute of Financial Studies, Bucharest
Prof. PhD Adrian MICU, "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galați
Prof. PhD Raluca Georgiana LĂDARU, Bucharest University of Economic Studies; Institute of Financial Studies, Bucharest
Ieronim ȘTEFAN, Financial Education Department Coordinator, Institute of Financial Studies, Bucharest
Scientific Committee
- Prof. Monica Violeta ACHIM PhD., Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca;
- Acad. Lucian-Liviu ALBU, Romanian Academy, Institute of Economic Forecasting, Institute of Financial Studies;
- Prof. Alin ANDRIEȘ PhD., "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași;
- Prof. Flavia BARNA PhD., West University of Timișoara;
- Assoc. Prof. Claudiu BOȚOC PhD., West University of Timișoara;
- Assoc. Prof. Teodora Odett BREAZ PhD., "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia;
- Cătălin CÂMPEANU PhD. Cand. Institute of Financial Studies;
- Assoc. Prof. Daniel CÎRCIUMARU PhD., University of Craiova;
- Prof. Cristina CIUMAȘ PhD., Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca;
- Prof. Ludmila COBZARI PhD., Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, Republic of Moldova;
- Assoc. Prof. Ionela COSTICĂ PhD., Bucharest University of Economic Studies;
- Prof. Mirela CRISTEA PhD., University of Craiova;
- Prof. Marius DINCĂ PhD., Transilvania University of Brașov;
- Prof. Zbysław DOBROWOLSKI PhD., Institute of Public Affairs, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland;
- Prof. Grzegorz DROZDOWSKI PhD., Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Poland;
- Prof. Liliana FELEAGĂ PhD., Bucharest University of Economic Studies;
- Assoc. Prof. Georgiana GEORGESCU PhD., Bucharest University of Economic Studies;
- Prof. Iza GIGAURI PhD., St. Andrews University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia;
- Lect. Sergiu GOLUB PhD., Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca;
- Prof. Félix Puime GUILLÉN PhD., University of A Coruña, Spain;
- Prof. Eglantina HYSA PhD., Epoka University, Tirana, Albania;
- Assoc. Prof. Raul Felix HODOȘ PhD., "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia;
- Prof. Valeriu IOAN-FRANC PhD., "Costin C. Kirițescu" National Institute of Economic Research;
- Valentin IONESCU, Financial Supervisory Authority; President, Institute of Financial Studies;
- Prof. Nicolae ISTUDOR PhD., Bucharest University of Economic Studies;
- Assoc. Prof. Meral KAGITCI PhD., Bucharest University of Economic Studies;
- Prof. Elżbieta KUBIŃSKA PhD., Cracow University of Economics, Poland;
- Prof. Carolina MACHODO PhD., University of Minho, Portugal;
- Prof. Liviu MAHA PhD., "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași;
- Prof. Adrian MICU PhD., "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galați;
- Prof. Svetlana MIHĂILĂ PhD., Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, Republic of Moldova;
- Assoc. Prof. Adrian MITROI PhD., Bucharest University of Economic Studies;
- Prof. Carmen Eugenia NĂSTASE PhD., "Ștefan cel Mare" University of Suceava;
- Prof. Valentina NDOU PhD., University of Salento, Italy;
- Prof. Florian Marcel NUȚĂ PhD., Danubius University of Galați;
- Prof. Mihaela ONOFREI PhD., "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași;
- Prof. Maria PALAZZO PhD., Mercatorum University, Italy;
- Prof. Mirela PANAIT PhD., Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești;
- Prof. Răzvan-Mihail PAPUC PhD., University of Bucharest;
- Narcis PĂVĂLAȘCU PhD Cand., Arbitration and Mediation Center for Insurance (ACAMA), Bucharest;
- Prof. Silviu Mirel PIȚURU PhD., "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest;
- Prof. Lukman RAIMI PhD., University of Brunei Darussalam, Brunei;
- Prof. Irina Gabriela RĂDULESCU PhD., Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești;
- Prof. Claudia Diana SABĂU-POPA PhD., University of Oradea;
- Prof. Murat SARI PhD., Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Science and Letters, Turkey;
- Prof. Alfonso SIANO PhD., University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy;
- Prof. Satyendra SINGH PhD., Business and Emerging Markets Academy, University of Winnipeg, Canada;
- Lect. Ioan - Ovidiu SPĂTĂCEAN PhD, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureș;
- Prof. Eduard STOICA PhD., "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu;
- Prof. Ovidiu STOICA PhD., "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași;
- Assoc. Prof. Maria Cristina ȘTEFAN PhD., "Valahia" University, Târgoviște;
- Assoc. Prof. Daniel ȘTEFAN PhD, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Târgu Mureș;
- Prof. Petru ȘTEFEA PhD., West University of Timișoara;
- Prof. Ioan Dan TOPOR PhD., "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia;
- Prof. Laslo VASA PhD., Metropolitan University, Budapest, Hungary;
- Prof. Valentina VASILE PhD., Institute of National Economic Research, Romanian Academy;
- Prof. Agostino VOLLERO PhD., University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy.
Access to the event will be granted exclusively to individuals who complete the registration form. Places are limited.
Registration deadline: March 12, 2026, 12:00 PM.
Event Agenda
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026
09:30–10:00 Participant Registration
Plenary Session: FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND THE MATURATION OF FINANCIAL MARKETS ALIGNED WITH OECD ACCESSION CRITERIA
10:00–12:30 Session in which special guests will address topics related to digitalization, sustainability, financial education, and OECD accession criteria in the financial field within the global economic context.
OPENING SESSION:
- Alexandru Petrescu – President, Financial Supervisory Authority
- Prof. Dr. Leonardo Badea – First Vice-Governor, National Bank of Romania*
- Gabriel Avrămescu – First Vice-President, Financial Supervisory Authority
- Prof. Dr. Dorel Paraschiv – Vice-Rector, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
- Cristian Pascu – Member of the Board of Administration, Bucharest Stock Exchange
- Alexandru Ciuncan – President and CEO, UNSAR
- Prof. Dr. Ioan Vasile Abrudan – Rector, Transilvania University of Brașov
- Prof. Dr. Daniel Breaz – Rector, “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Alin Diniță – Rector, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești
- Horia Gustă – President, Association of Fund Administrators
- Dorel Duță – President, UNSICAR
- Viorel Vasile – President, PRBAR
- Valentin Ionescu – President, Institute for Financial Studies
- Marian Siminică – Executive Director, Institute for Financial Studies
12:30–14:00 – LUNCH
ACADEMIC PANEL – On-site / Online
ACADEMIC PANEL 1 – IN PERSON / ONLINE
Moderators: Prof. Dr. Marian Siminică – Executive Director ISF and Professor, University of Craiova, Raluca Lădaru – Professor, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Institute for Financial Studies
14:00 – 15:30
- Lucian Liviu Albu – FINANCIAL MARKET DYNAMICS IN THE CONTEXT OF REAL CONVERGENCE AND PREPARATION FOR OECD ACCESSION
- Felix Puime-Guillen – THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON MANAGEMENT CONTROL OF THE COMPANY
- Georgiana Raluca Lădaru; Ionuț-Laurențiu Petre; Marilena Berheci – ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF NON-BANK FINANCIAL MARKET PARTICIPATION: EVIDENCE FROM EUROBAROMETER FINANCIAL LITERACY DATA
- Valentina Butmalai; Nicoleta Cristache; Alina-Florentina Saracu; Sabin Murariu; Marius Iosif; Andrei Vizitiu – THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN ROMANIAN HOUSEHOLDS
- Georgiana Raluca Lădaru; Ionuț-Laurențiu Petre; Steliana Mocanu – ROMANIA’S CONVERGENCE TO OECD STANDARDS IN FINANCIAL EDUCATION
- Antonia-Gabriela Maloș; Steliana Mocanu; Georgiana-Raluca Lădaru; Ionuț-Laurențiu Petre – FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND ROMANIA’S CONVERGENCE TO OECD STANDARDS
- Viorela Ligia Văidean; Patricia-Larisa Voie – THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS IN SHAPING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME – A PANEL STUDY
- Costinela Fortea; Valentin-Marian Antohi; Ioana Lăzărescu; Doina Iacob; Marius-Sorin Dincă – THE EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE STRUCTURE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY IN ROMANIA
- Valentin-Marian Antohi; Monica Laura Zlati; Alina Meca; Costinela Fortea; Marius-Sorin Dincă – ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND CORPORATE INNOVATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
ACADEMIC PANEL 2 – IN PERSON / ONLINE
Moderators: Prof. Dr. Mirela Cristea – University of Craiova, Prof. Dr. Dan Topor – “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia
14:00 – 15:30
- Mirela Cristea; Raluca Mihaela Drăcea; Grațiela Georgiana Noja; Daniel Cîrciumaru; Elena Iulia Nițescu – HETEROGENEOUS EFFECTS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND INNOVATION ON THE EU INSURANCE MARKET
- Daniel-George Surdu – THE EVOLUTION OF GREEN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
- Gabriela Cojocariu; Nicoleta Țîcu; Adina Dornean – THE ROLE OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE IN MITIGATING CLIMATE-RELATED ECONOMIC LOSSES
- Melinda Timea Fülöp; George-Silviu Cordoș; Nicolae Măgdaș – AUDIT AND ASSURANCE OF ESG DISCLOSURES IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY
- Simona Elena Drăgoiu; Luciana Simona Pascu – DOUBLE MATERIALITY AS THE NEW CORE OF EUROPEAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
- Diana Andreea Todea – MAPPING THE RELATIONSHIP OF ESG AND FINANCIAL RESILIENCE
- Ramona Ionela Haraguș – FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND THE QUALITY OF ACCOUNTING REPORTING AS DRIVERS OF FINANCIAL MARKET MATURITY IN ROMANIA
- Mihai Negrea – CONTINUOUS AUDITING OF NON-REIMBURSABLE GRANTS VIA BLOCKCHAIN
- Adriana Maria Anca – ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN FINANCIAL SECURITY AND USERS’ DIGITAL LITERACY
ACADEMIC PANEL 3 – IN PERSON / ONLINE
Moderators: Prof. Dr. Petru Ștefea – West University of Timișoara Assoc. Prof. Dr. Daniel Cîrciumaru – University of Craiova
15:30 – 17:00
- Grațiela Georgiana Noja et al. – TURNING INNOVATION INTO SUSTAINABLE VALUE
- Victoria Groiță – THE IMPACT OF ESG RATINGS ON CORPORATE PERFORMANCE
- Ieronim-Georgian Ștefan; Răzvan-Alexandru Popp – ESRS AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION
- Angela Secrieru; Eduard Kenig – STRUCTURAL REFORM OF THE INSURANCE MARKET IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
- Ibolya Mercédesz Török – INTEGRATING ESG CRITERIA INTO CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
- Andreea Maria Șoptea-Iordache et al. – FINANCIAL LITERACY AND THE ADOPTION OF EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS IN EMERGING MARKETS
- Elfriede-Larisa Todor et al. – COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF UNIVERSITY FINANCING: GERMANY VS. ROMANIA
- Alexia-Raluca Turceniuc – WOMEN’S POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DECOUPLING IN THE EU
- Constantin Răzvan Arici – ENHANCING MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ACADEMIC PANEL 4 – IN PERSON / ONLINE
Moderators: Prof. Dr. Raluca Drăcea – Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adrian Mitroi – Bucharest University of Economic Studies
15:30 – 17:00
- Raluca Mihaela Drăcea et al. – THE REACTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRICES TO GLOBAL ENERGY MARKET SHOCKS
- Diana Joița; Mirela Panait; Carmen Mincă – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION
- Liliana Diana Ciobotariu; Geanina Gabriela Prodan – TAXATION AND FIRM BEHAVIOUR
- Oxana Barbăneagră; Gabriela Gîndea – ECONOMIC DECISION-MAKING AND FINANCIAL COMPETENCE
- Anișoara Niculina Apetri; Ancuța-Anisia Chelba – THE ROLE OF OECD STANDARDS: A LITERATURE REVIEW
- Ibolya-Mercedesz Török – THE ROLE OF REGULATION IN THE MATURATION OF ESG REPORTING
- Lidia Ciobota; Cătălin Emanuel Ciobota – THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN STRENGTHENING FINANCIAL MARKETS
- Petronela-Alice Grigorescu et al. – CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
- Daniel Danilov et al. – HUMAN CAPITAL AND FINANCIAL COMPETENCIES AS DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
Panel – Consumer Protection and Alternative Dispute Resolution
14:00–15:30 The panel includes a debate on consumer protection mechanisms and the role of alternative dispute resolution in strengthening trust in non-banking financial markets. Discussions will address the applicable legislative and institutional framework, the effectiveness of amicable dispute resolution procedures, the level of consumer information and financial education, as well as challenges generated by digitalization and the diversification of financial products.
The panel will bring together representatives of regulatory authorities, alternative dispute resolution entities, professional associations, industry practitioners, and other relevant stakeholders.
Moderator: Ionel DANCĂ
Claudiu-Emanuil STĂNESCU, Director, Financial and Logistics Directorate – Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), Coordinating Member of the SAL-Fin College
Ioana POPESCU, Head of Service, Public Relations Service – ASF
Vlad NICOLĂESCU, Financial Education Officer – ASF
Adriana MIHAI, Conciliator
Dorel DUȚĂ, President, UNSICAR
Cătălin CÂMPEANU, Secretary General, Institute for Financial Studies (ISF)
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2026
Academic Panel – Online
ACADEMIC PANEL 5 – IN PERSON / ONLINE
Moderators: Prof. Dr. Mirela Panait – Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, Dr. Cătălin Câmpeanu – Secretary General, Institute for Financial Studies
10:00 – 12:00
- Ionuț-Laurențiu Petre; Steliana Mocanu – THE ROLE OF EDUCATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN STRENGTHENING FINANCIAL MARKETS
- Claudia Boghicevici et al. – MACROECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON THE ROMANIAN INSURANCE SECTOR
- Steliana Mocanu; Ionuț-Laurențiu Petre; Antonia-Gabriela Maloș – FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND NON-BANKING FINANCIAL MARKETS IN ROMANIA’S ECONOMIC RESILIENCE
- Lidia Ciobota; Cătălin Emanuel Ciobota – INFLATION IN ROMANIA IN RELATION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
- Marian Cătălin Voica et al. – THE STRATEGIC EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF AI AGENTS IN GLOBAL FINANCE
- Mirela Panait; Alina Brezoi; Mădălina Sămărghițan – FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN ROMANIA: FROM VULNERABILITY TO RESILIENCE
- Melinda Timea Fülöp; Dan Ioan Topor – SUSTAINABLE INVESTING IN EUROPE
- Silviu Cârstina et al. – THE IMPACT OF AI ON THE EU LABOR MARKET
- Adela Simona Bizău – THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN STRENGTHENING AND STABILIZING THE FINANCIAL MARKET
- Andreea Mogda – BAYESIAN VAR EVIDENCE ON ROMANIA’S FINANCIAL MARKET MATURITY
- Alina Georgiana Solomon et al. – CONVERGENCE BETWEEN FISCAL POLICY AND MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING
11:00–11:30 – Conference Conclusions
Presentations of scientific papers (in .pdf or .ppt format) to be delivered at this event must be sent by March 12, 2026 to the following email address: evenimente@isf.ro. The selected articles will be published in the Financial Studies Review. In order for these papers to enter the peer-review process, the final version must be submitted in English, in accordance with the formatting requirements by April 7, 2026, via email to: revista@isf.ro
Termene
Confirmation of participation / abstract submission: March 6, 2026 – by completing the registration form
Presentation submission (.pdf, .ppt): March 12, 2026 – to: evenimente@isf.ro.
Final paper submission for publication: April 7, 2026 – to: revista@isf.ro
