February 16, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 16.02.2026, 19:48
Government. The bills on the public administration reform and the economic recovery package have been finalised and will be adopted by emergency order and will include several amendments relating to institutions in the areas of defence, public order, national security, education, healthcare and culture, the leaders of the four parties of the ruling coalition and the group of national minorities agreed on Monday. According to a statement issued after a government meeting, “the reductions in salary expenses made by ministries in 2025 will be taken into account in the calculation of the total 10% reduction”. With respect to local taxes and duties, the coalition decided “to work based on a number of proposed amendments regarding the situation created following the application of overtaxation quotas, the situation of buildings older than 50 years and people with disabilities”. A working group has also been created that will propose final solutions, the statement also says.
ECOFIN. Romanian Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare is attending the Economic and Financial Affairs Council held on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels. According to a statement, the main topics on the agenda of the meeting include the package of measures to supplement public pensions, part of the Strategy for the Savings and Investments Union, as well as the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The Romanian Finance Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings in Brussels during which he will discuss hosting the European Union Customs Agency, the future central customs authority of the European Union that will coordinate European customs policies. Romania is a candidate to host its headquarters, which would strengthen the country’s role in managing the EU’s external borders, the statement added.
Employment. At the end of November 2025, the number of employees in Bucharest was 1,113,044, down by 880 compared to October, but up by over 12,000 compared to November 2024. According to the National Institute of Statistics, the average net salary was 7,113 lei, up 423 lei compared to November 2024. In Bucharest, there were 6,415 unemployed persons registered, a significant decrease compared to November 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics. (1 euro = approximately 5 lei).
Board of Peace. Romanian President Nicuşor Dan has announced that he will attend the first meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington this week, responding to an invitation from the US President Donald Trump. “Romania will have observer status, and I will reaffirm our strong support for international peace efforts and our openness to participate in the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip,” said the Romanian president. He explained that the decision is based on Romania’s support for the diplomatic process enshrined in the resolution adopted in November by the UN Security Council, initiated by the US. The European Commission has also said that a EU commissioner will attend the meeting in Washington, without the European Union joining the new structure for the time being.
Award. Romanian swimmer David Popovici, double world champion in Singapore, was elected the best athlete in the Balkans in 2025, announced on Monday the Bulgarian news agency BTA, which hosted the 52nd edition of this survey. Popovici, who won the award for the second time, with 70 points, was followed in the ranking by Serbian basketball player Nikola Jokic, with 46 points, and Bulgarian weightlifter Karlos Nasar, with 41 points, BTA said. (CM)
