January 17, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 17.01.2026, 20:01
FRANCE The latest information that recently appeared in the public space according to which, France would be extremely dissatisfied with Romania’s position regarding the trade agreement EU-Mercosur or if there is a connection between this file and the French military presence in Romania ‘is false’, the French Embassy in Bucharest says. According to it, the French military presence is part of commitments to collective security and strengthening NATO’s Eastern Flank. The embassy has also reaffirmed its commitment to the French-Romanian strategic partnership and the security of the region. The reaction comes after comments by PSD MEP Victor Negrescu who suggested that France might be dissatisfied with Romania’s position and that there could be geostrategic consequences, including a possible withdrawal of French troops from the country.
OECD Romania’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a decisive step for the way in which the Romanian state will be functioning in the following years, its impact being comparable with the country’s accession to NATO and the European Union – Romania’s Finance Minister, Alexandru Nazare wrote in a Facebook post. According to him, OECD means clear rules, operational institutions and public policies based on data and expertise from developed economies – practically, a new level of openness and a new development stage for Romania. Romania has lately taken concrete steps, which take us closer to the objective of accession in 2026 and the consolidation of the reforms assumed.” In Minister Nazare’s opinion the benefits are clear: increased trust and investment, lower funding costs for the state, more effective and predictable public policies, a more resilient and competitive economy and a better life for the Romanians wherever they are.
GAS In cold weather, Romania cannot cover its need for natural gas only from the domestic production – the Intelligent Energy Association says adding that in this situation, imports, mainly from Hungary, become essential. The chair of the aforementioned association, Dumitru Chisăliţă, said in a communiqué that in some situations Romania cannot make rapid gas deliveries to consumers around the country and those in the neighbouring Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova. When gas deposits go down, extraction capabilities also stay low, says the aforementioned association, which adds that during periods of cold weather, Romania is not only managing gas supplies towards the population but also the regional transit of natural gas.
TRADE Hundreds of officials were invited to Paraguay on Saturday for signing the historical agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In Europe the agreement has already prompted the farmers to take to the streets amid fears that markets will be flooded by cheaper South-American products. The European Parliament on Monday is expected to tackle a no confidence vote against the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen for having signed the agreement. The EU-Mercosur agreement will be creating a common market of roughly 720 million people. According to pundits, the country benefitting most is Brazil whose GDP is to rise by 0.46% until 2040. The other Mercosur economies are to grow by 0.2% whereas the European Union will see a growth of only 0.06%. The main beneficiaries will be the South-American producers of fruits, fish and coffee. In terms of industry, Europe will be the main beneficiary as its countries rely more on technology and will be exporting industrial and electronic equipment, automobiles, medicine and clothing. Besides its risks, the agreement may also be beneficial to Romania.
WEATHER Romania’s National Meteorology Agency on Saturday issued a series of yellow warnings for extremely cold temperatures valid until January 21 for almost all regions. Starting Sunday, the weather will be extremely cold in almost all regions with frosty nights and mornings and lows between -20 and -10 Celsius. In eastern and central Romania the cold weather will persist at noon as well with highs between -15 and -9 degrees Celsius.
(bill)
