February 21, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 21.02.2026, 19:38
Survey. 73.1% of Romanians believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction, according to the latest poll conducted by INSCOP Research between January 28 and February 6. Only 22.2% of respondents believe that things in Romania are heading in the right direction, while 4.7% do not know or did not respond. 32.2% of Romanians cite corruption as the most important issue that concerns them, 23.6% mention rising prices, 13.4% their own and their family’s health, and 11.7% the state of the education system. According to the sociological research, 54.9% of those surveyed believe that Russia is to blame for triggering the war in the neighborhood, 14.1% point to Ukraine, 7.7% to the United States, and 9% to the European Union. When asked to what extent they believe that various entities/countries would defend Romania in the event of an attack by Russia, 66.6% of respondents indicated to a very large or fairly large extent NATO, 47.7% indicated France, 46.6% indicated the US, and 44.6% indicated Germany and the United Kingdom (38.1%). According to the survey, 67.1% of participants agree with the introduction of compulsory military service in Romania, 30.5% are against it, and 2.4% do not know or did not respond. In the event of a war in which Romania would be attacked, 48% of respondents would fight to defend their country, 19.7% would emigrate from the country, 10.5% would hide until the war was over, and 4.7% would obtain a medical certificate to be declared unfit for combat. The proportion of non-responses is 10%.
Visit. Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan will visit Brussels next week, where he will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, official government sources have announced. The information is also confirmed by the European Commission President’s agenda. The visit comes as authorities in Bucharest are currently holding discussions within the governing coalition on the drafting of this year’s state budget law, taking into account the European funds that are to support the investment component of the budget. At the same time, in the next two to three weeks, Romania is expected to receive an official response from the European Commission regarding the status of the funds related to the PNRR milestone on magistrates’ pensions, namely the amount of €231 million. The government is also awaiting the European Executive’s approval of payment request no. 4, amounting to €2.62 billion.
Scholarships. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched the annual scholarship program offered by the Romanian Government to foreign citizens from non-EU countries for the 2026-2027 academic year, based on the government decision regarding the education of citizens from other countries in Romania. According to a press release, the program is run through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the budget of the Ministry of Education and Research and aims to develop and deepen long-term bilateral relations with the students’ countries of origin, as well as to promote Romanian higher education institutions more effectively at a global level. Applications are submitted through the StudyInRomania online platform, managed by the Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI), by creating an individual account. More information about the Program (eligibility conditions, levels of study covered, and documents required for applications) can be found both on the platform and on the MFA website, in the section Scholarships offered to foreign citizens by the Romanian state. Individual applications can be uploaded to the platform until March 31, 2026, with the selection results to be announced around July 15, 2026.
Roads. Several sections of motorways and national roads in southern Romania are closed or restricted to traffic following heavy snowfall and blizzards, the National Road Infrastructure Administration Company (CNAIR) announced on Saturday. In other areas, vehicles are accompanied by road crews and traffic police to ensure safe travel. CNAIR personnel deployed 883 machines and spread 3,185 tons of anti-skid material and 5 tons of calcium chloride on the road surface, according to the same source.
Rugby. Romania’s national team will face Portugal away on Sunday in a Group B match of the 2026 Rugby Europe Championship. In their first two matches, Romania lost away to Germany and defeated Belgium at home. Portugal leads the group with 10 points, followed by Romania with 5 points, Germany with 4 points, and Belgium with 0 points.
Football. Romania’s national football team coach Mircea Lucescu, who has been facing health issues recently, will lead the team in the match against Turkey, as well as in the next match in the 2026 World Cup play-offs, if they qualify, the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) announced on its official website. According to the source, the decision was made following recent medical evaluations and discussions between the FRF leadership and the coach. The medical opinion received from a clinic in Brussels confirms that Lucescu (80) is fit to continue his work on the national team bench. The coach was initially admitted to a hospital in Bucharest for antibiotic treatment following a subcutaneous infection. He then went abroad to get a second opinion on another medical issue. Romania’s national football team will face Turkey away on March 26 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup playoffs. If they beat Turkey, the Romanians will play the playoff final away against the winner of Slovakia vs. Kosovo on March 31. Romania last appeared in a World Cup finals in 1998 in France. (MI)
