AUGUST 15, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 15.08.2026, 13:59
HOLIDAY Christians are today celebrating the Assumption of Mary or St. Mary, considered the patron saint of sailors, a holiday, which reminds us how the Virgin Mary left this world. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is the patron saint of most monasteries in Romania and because of that the aforementioned holiday is reason for the biggest pilgrimages in this country. Structures with the Romanian Interior Ministry have deployed additional personnel to contribute to public safety in the Romanian Black Sea resorts presently in full holiday season. Their mission is to ensure the public order at the events occasioned by the Navy Day but also to ease road traffic and for rapid intervention in emergency situations. Policemen are present around the worship places as well.
MESSAGES ‘In the past years, the Black Sea has become a crucial area for Europe’s security’ Romanian President, Nicusor Dan, says in his Navy Day address. “The Black Sea is an area where Romania is affirming its strategic interests and projecting its future”, the Head of the Romanian state went on to say. “The Black Sea means trade, energy and connectivity.” “The war in Ukraine proved that Romania is not at the edge of the European Union, Romania is the Union’s first defence line; we are in the Eastern Flank, at the EU’s most important border, the border between a free Europe and a country where citizens are defending their freedom with the price of their lives, and that obliges us,” Romania’s acting Defence Minister says during the ceremonies in Constanta. “It obliges us, Radu Miruta says, because peace is not kept by hoping that others do not attack us, peace is kept by equipping ourselves and making others realize that if they attack us, there will be a heavy price to pay.” “I am here to thank all those who are vigilant on the sea so that we can sleep safe and sound on the ground, to thank all those who support these people, their families, ship builders, port workers, all our partners with whom we cooperate for the security of our eastern border and in the Black Sea”, the acting Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan says.
AMENDMENTS This weekend, the Labour Ministry submitted to the Presidential Administration a series of fresh amendments to the Public Sector Wage Law. President Nicusor Dan has asked for these amendments ahead of a new meeting with the political leaders with a view to reaching an agreement on endorsing and promulgating the law by August 31, the deadline assumed through the PNRR. According to the acting Labour Minister, Dragos Pislaru, the present version has been significantly improved in two areas, healthcare and education. The Minister also says the amendments are targeting the salary scale for high-ranking officials. He says he has received the salary scale by e-mail from the Chamber of Deputies, and that it was agreed upon by the leaders of the political Parliamentary groups. According to him, the interim government cannot amend this proposal. 770 million Euros worth of European funds are hinging on the endorsement of the aforementioned law.
DAY Romania’s Naval Forces are celebrating Navy Day today—an event marked in six cities: Constanţa, Mangalia, Brăila, Tulcea, Galaţi, and Bucharest. As in previous years, the Black Sea port city of Constanţa is the central point of the celebration; over 3,500 Romanian and foreign military personnel are participating in the military ceremony and the joint naval exercise led by the Romanian Naval Forces, attended by acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and acting Minister of Defence Radu Miruţă. The ceremony began with the hoisting of the ensign, the jack, and the full dress ship flags aboard the military vessels, while maritime activities kicked off with the traditional arrival of the god Neptune, accompanied by nautical games taking place along the waterfront. The newest vessel to enter service with the Romanian Navy, the corvette ‘Contra-admiral August Roman’, fired the opening salute for the joint naval exercise, which includes sequences involving mine countermeasures, repelling enemy air attacks, searching for and attacking enemy submarines, repelling an amphibious landing, combating illegal migration, and maritime search and rescue operations. A total of over 50 ships and boats, military and civil aircraft, amphibious armored personnel carriers, and artillery pieces are participating, involving the Naval Forces, the Coast Guard, the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Lives at Sea, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and the Romanian Air Club. Ships from Turkey and Bulgaria are present, along with two Spanish F-18 aircraft conducting NATO enhanced air policing missions and a French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft. The evening will conclude with a military concert, a torchlight procession by the sailors, as well as a laser and light show.
PNRR Romania has officially submitted payment request No. 5 under the NRRP, totaling 2.84 billion Euros, the interim Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoş Pîslaru has announced. This request covers 75 targets and milestones (21 reforms and 54 investments), comprising a net value of 1.65 billion euros in non-repayable European funds (grants) and 433 million euros in loans. This is the penultimate payment request under the NRRP. With this submission, Romania reaches a 78% absorption rate for the grant component. Romania’s Recovery and Resilience Plan is funded with 21.41 billion euros, consisting of 13.57 billion euros in grants and 7.84 billion in loans.
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