January 23, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 23.01.2026, 20:00
REFORM The government intends to take responsibility before Parliament for the reform of local and central public administration, along with economic recovery measures, before February 1, PM Ilie Bolojan said on Friday. In an interview with Radio Romania, the prime minister said that, regardless of what happens in the coming period, the budget bill should be passed under normal conditions, as quickly as possible. He mentioned that Romania’s GDP in 2026 could exceed EUR 4 billion, the deficit could get near 6%, and the inflation rate could be slightly above 4%.
UNION The Romanian Ministry of National Defence together with local authorities Saturday organise military and religious ceremonies devoted to the 167th anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities. Carried out under the leadership of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the union of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia was the first stage in the establishment of the modern Romanian state. The international recognition of the Union and the measures taken in the years that followed led to the achievement and recognition of Romania’s independence in 1877 – 1878 and to the fulfilment of the national ideal of the union of all Romanians in 1918.
SURVEY Seven out of 10 Romanians believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction, according to the latest Informat.ro – INSCOP Research Barometer. According to the survey, over 22% of the respondents believe that things in Romania are heading in the right direction, and 7% do not know or do not answer. The survey also shows that the most optimistic about the direction of the country are young people under 30, people with higher education, and the residents of Bucharest and large urban areas. The data was collected between January 12 and 15, 2026.
SUMMIT The European Union’s relationship with the United States is far too important, so the bloc will get over the latest tense episode, European leaders said at the end of Thursday’s emergency summit in Brussels, convened after president Donald Trump’s attempts to take control of Greenland. The EU agrees that it needs to focus more on the security of the Arctic, and to this end the EC Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced the doubling of investments in Greenland, a possible European icebreaker fleet from defence funds, as well as coordination with NATO to better protect the region. President Nicuşor Dan, who attended the Brussels meeting, said he did not rule out that Romania, as a NATO member, could participate in missions in the Arctic region in the future. (AMP, EE)
