August 23, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 23.08.2026, 14:00
Parliament to convene in special session
Romania’s bicameral Parliament in Bucharest is convening this Monday for a new, three-day extraordinary session. It comes during the final week in which Romania can still hit its remaining targets under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan agreed with the European Commission. Senators are debating the Hydrogen Law under emergency procedure, a crucial milestone without which the country risks losing a 2.84-billion-Euro payout. In parallel, deputies must re-examine the Integrity Law, modified following objections by the Constitutional Court, alongside new rules for high school entrance exams. Meanwhile, the adoption of the new public sector salary law remains uncertain, another major milestone on which 770 million Euro depend. Although the deadline is August 31st, the draft is still being analyzed by political parties following discussions with President Nicușor Dan. So far, only the Liberals have backed the latest version of the proposal, which faces fierce contestation from trade unions.
New measures to restart the Cernavodă NPP
Romanian authorities are taking new emergency measures to restart the nuclear power plant at Cernavodă, located in the southeast of the country along the Danube. The Ministry of Energy and Hidroelectrica are working to increase the river’s flow to ensure the water necessary for cooling the reactors. At the entry point into the country at Baziaș, in the southwest, the Danube’s flow is three times lower than the normal average for this period, measuring just 1,300 cubic meters per second compared to the usual 3,900. Under these conditions, the National Committee for Emergency Situations has already begun releasing large volumes of water from reservoirs along the Olt River. In addition, dredging operations continue. Although Cernavodă has backup deep wells, operating the nuclear reactors at maximum capacity depends on the high flow rate that only the Danube can supply. Currently, Romania is importing electricity daily at high prices.
Romania reports highest EU fuel price spike
Data from Eurostat shows Romania recorded the highest fuel price increase in the European Union over the past 12 months. The largest rate spikes for gasoline and diesel were registered in Romania at 24%, followed by Germany, Lithuania, and Bulgaria at around 22%. At the opposite end, the smallest price increases were recorded in Sweden at 1.2% and Ireland at 3%. The only country where prices dropped year-over-year in July 2026 compared to July 2025 was Hungary, with a slight dip of 0.1%. Looking at month-on-month figures for Romania, Eurostat notes diesel prices rose in July by 4.6% compared to June, while gasoline prices fell by 0.8%.
Middle East peace talks
In international news, interim Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu has strongly criticized recent statements made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, declaring them “completely unacceptable” on the X platform. Responding to the far-right Tel Aviv minister’s comments that Israel should kill 30 or 40 people every night in Gaza, Țoiu wrote: “It is not the first time we must speak out firmly, both in Romania and across the international community, to reaffirm that such statements contradict the painful lessons history has taught us regarding the immense dangers of dehumanization and calls to violence. These provocative calls for unjustifiable violence undermine efforts to obtain a peaceful solution, both by regional actors and internationally.” She emphasized that respect for human rights remains a foundational principle of Romanian foreign policy, firmly rejecting such dangerous rhetoric. The Foreign Minister reiterated Romania’s support for a two-state solution and added that under international law, Jewish settlements in the West Bank remain illegal, with violent actions there lacking any justification. Over 2.9 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, which is separated from Gaza by Israeli territory, alongside roughly 490,000 Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law.
George Enescu competition kicks off
Turning to culture, the 2026 George Enescu International Competition opens this Sunday at the Romanian Athenaeum. The opening concert features the Radio National Orchestra alongside the three winners of the 2024 edition: violinist Mayumi Kanagawa, cellist Yo Kitamura, and pianist Roman Lopatynskyi, under the baton of Maestro Cristian Măcelaru. The evening opens with The Stone and the Ivy, composed by Diego Santamaria—winner of the Originality Prize at the 2024 edition. Organizers note that including this piece reaffirms the competition’s commitment to contemporary creation and supporting new voices in music today. A major highlight of the evening will be the performance of Brahmsodia – Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano, and Orchestra Opus 169, by Dan Dediu, one of the premier figures in contemporary Romanian music. Running from August 23rd through September 19th, the competition gathers young musicians from around the world to compete in violin, cello, piano, and composition. The event takes place under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, with Radio Romania serving as media partner.
Fiery return leg for Universitatea Craiova
In sports, Romanian football champion Universitatea Craiova from the south of the country is preparing for Thursday evening’s decisive away return match against Ararat-Armenia Yerevan in the Europa League play-offs. Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg at home in Craiova, Universitatea stands as Romania’s last remaining representative in European club competitions this season. The nation’s other three contenders, Universitatea Cluj and CFR Cluj from the northwest, as well as FCSB from Bucharest, were all eliminated in the preliminary rounds. (VP)
