August 10, 2026 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

Newsroom, 10.08.2026, 20:00

SALARIES Romanian parliamentary parties are invited for a new round of urgent technical talks on the unified salary bill with president Nicuşor Dan on Tuesday. This is the last week in which political leaders can reach an agreement on this reform, which is mandatory for Romania to secure almost EUR 800 million in EU funding. The reform of public sector salaries is a critical milestone and must be endorsed and published in the Official Journal by August 31. However, parliamentary proceedings are stuck because of disagreements between parties and dissatisfaction among trade unions. The interim labour minister Dragoş Pîslaru Monday once again called firmly on political leaders to put disputes aside. He said talks with trade unions in sensitive areas, such as education and healthcare, have advanced considerably. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats announced they do not support the bill on public sector salaries in the current form drafted by the labour ministry. They believe that the law needs amendments to be brought in line with the demands of trade unions and other social and professional categories. In turn, AUR party also claims that the bill is poorly drafted, and calls for the elimination of privileges and exceptions, for cutting down bureaucracy and for placing professionals at the center of the system.

DANUBE The government Monday earmarked approx. EUR 1 million to carry on urgent dredging works to deepen the riverbed on the Danube, in a move to ensure the water flow required for the safe operation of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant in the context of the severe drought this period. The Danube water flow rose 8 cm near Cernavodă following interventions in the Bala area, and Unit 2 of the plant, the only one currently operational, can continue to operate for at least another 9 days, according to the interim transport minister Radu Miruţă. Four barges were sunk in a controlled manner to redirect part of the Danube flow to the branch that supplies the nuclear power plant, which covers 20% of the country’s energy demand. However, the authorities warn that the danger has not passed, as strong currents could dislodge the barges and reduce or even cancel the effect of the intervention. The Danube flow rate is expected to stay at around 1,400 cubic meters per second until August 12 and to gradually increase to 1,500 cubic meters per second by August 15, according to the National Hydrology and Water Management Institute. Due to the low flow of the Danube at its entry into the country, Romania is under an energy alert this month.

DEFICIT Romania’s trade balance deficit in the first half of 2026 was EUR 16.459 billion, down 2% from the figure reported in the corresponding period of 2025, the National Statistics Institute announced on Monday. In the first 6 months of the year, exports totaled EUR 49.037 billion, while imports reached EUR 65.497 billion. Exports increased by 3% and imports by 1.7% compared to the first half of 2025. According to the INS, transportation equipment accounts for 46.8% of exports and 36.5% of imports, while other manufactured goods account for 27.2% of the country’s exports and 27.3% of imports. Intra-EU27 trade was about 3 times higher than extra-EU27 trade.

LEGISLATION Romania’s president Nicușor Dan Monday challenged at the Constitutional Court the law on the integrity of civil servants. The complaint posted on the Presidency’s website states that the law was endorsed in violation of certain constitutional norms and principles, including the fact that legislation cannot be enforced retroactively. Other questionable clauses concern the extension of the obligation to declare assets to partners, not just spouses, and the 3-year ban on holding a public office if a person is ruled to be in a state of incompatibility or conflict of interest. The law, endorsed by Parliament last week, has already been challenged by the National Liberal Party and USR, with a first hearing set for August 12. The law is a milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and unless it is endorsed by August 31, Romania will lose EUR 770 million.

WILD FIRES Romanian fire-fighters in France and Greece carried out interventions on Sunday night as part of pre-positioning missions in the two states, where activities were permanently adapted to the operational situation and the risk of wild fires. According to the General Inspectorate for Emergencies, in France Romanian crews stepped in to put out several fires between the localities of Correns, Montfort, Le Val and Carces. In Greece, a joint exercise and patrol missions were carried out in areas with high fire risks.

FILM In Sfântu Gheorghe, in the Danube Delta, the “Anonimul” International Independent Film Festival kicked off on Monday. The 23rd edition includes outdoor screenings, feature and short film competitions, as well as special productions for children. On Monday, the first day of the festival, “Gentle Monster,” starring Catherine Deneuve, had its national opening. Tuesday evening will be devoted to Romanian films, featuring Radu Jude’s latest work, “The Diary of a Chambermaid.” Audiences will be able to watch 5 feature films compete for the trophy, including the Romanian production “The End of the World” by Sebastian Pereanu. All of these films have screened at international festivals such as Venice, Sundance, and Karlovy Vary, and explore themes such as inequality, family relationships, freedom, and emancipation. The “Anonimul” Trophy will be awarded based on the audience’s vote. The festival also features Romanian and international short films in competition. Out of more than 150 submitted titles, 14 films were selected to be screened in Sfântu Gheorghe. This year’s festival closes on Sunday with “The Beloved,” starring Javier Bardem. (AMP)