April 6, 2026
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 06.04.2026, 13:55
Fuel market – The Romanian government has adopted the second package of intervention measures on the fuel market, after the decision to cap the commercial markup on gasoline and diesel, which came into force on April 1. It is about the reduction of the excise duty on standard diesel by 36 bani, including VAT, per liter and the introduction of a solidarity contribution for companies in the oil sector. The ordinance comes into force on Tuesday, April 7, and will remain in force as long as there is a fuel price crisis, both domestically and internationally. The Romanian government spokesperson, Ioana Dogioiu, explained that it was decided only to lower the excise duty on diesel, because its price has increased the most, as 75% of fuel consumption in Romania is diesel and this price fuels inflation. The government’s measure to reduce the excise duty on diesel by 36 bani per liter is insufficient, however, is the opinion of the president of IMM Romania (SMEs sector), Florin Jianu. He believes that there is room for a more consistent decrease given that Romania has one of the highest excise duties on oil in the European Union. Businessmen’s calculations show that only from the exceptional gains, the value added tax and the minimum turnover tax, a 50 bani reduction in fuel prices could be achieved.
Statistics – The total number of children in Romania who had both parents working abroad was 7,418 at the end of 2025, 656 fewer than at the end of the previous year, according to data centralized by the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption (ANPDCA). Of these, 6,830 were in the care of relatives up to the fourth degree, without protective measures, the rest being placed with a maternal assistant, residential services, other families or individuals. According to the cited source, over 37 thousand children had a parent working abroad (40,357, as of December 31, 2024), and of these, about 35 thousand children were in the care of relatives up to the fourth degree, without protective measures. At the same time, 756 children were in the special protection system, for instance in the care of a maternal assistant, in residential services or with other families/persons. At the same time, 5,734 children came from families in which the sole breadwinner was working abroad (6,367, at the end of the previous year). Of these, 5,052 children remained at home in the care of relatives up to the fourth degree, without any protection measure. The total number of children left at home who were in the special protection system amounted, at the end of last year, to 1,791, of which 304 children were in the care of a maternal assistant, 318 in residential services, 1,055 with relatives up to the fourth degree, and 114 in the care of other families or persons.
Holy Week – Orthodox Christians (the majority in Romania) and Greek Catholics have today entered the Holy Week, the last before the Easter holiday, in which they remember the passions of the Savior. In churches, believers participate every evening in special religious services, called Denii, in which the last moments of the life of Jesus Christ are remembered, before the crucifixion on the cross. The most important are the service of the 12 Gospels on Maundy Thursday and the service of the Lord’s Burial on Good Friday. Today Catholic and Protestant Christians mark the second day of Easter.
Securities – Romanians can invest, as of today until May 8, in Treasury government securities. The maturities are 1, 3 and 5 years, and the annual interest rates are 6.50%, 7% and 7.50%. The income obtained in this way is not taxed; the government securities have a nominal value of 1 leu and are issued in digital format. They can be purchased at the headquarters of the Treasury units, at the Post Office, between April 6 and May 6, 2026, through the Ghişeul.ro platform, and between April 6 and May 7, 2026 – online, but only by individuals who are registered in the Virtual Private Space. Government securities issued under the Treasury Program are transferable and can be redeemed in advance. Moreover, an investor has the freedom to make one or more subscriptions within an issue. The Treasury program is very popular with the population: in the first quarter of 2026 alone, subscriptions exceeded 7.75 billion lei (the equivalent of about 1.55 billion Euros).
NATO – Romania’s path to NATO was built on the deep desire to be part of a space of democracy, freedom and the rule of law, President Nicuşor Dan said on Sunday, in a message on the occasion of NATO Day in Romania and the 77th anniversary of the signing of the alliance’s founding act. In turn, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan gave assurances that Romania would continue to consolidate its role as a trusted partner on the Alliance’s eastern flank. NATO Day in Romania is marked on the first Sunday of April. (LS)