June 22, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 22.06.2026, 19:04
EU-Moldova. The Republic of Moldova has so far finalised 93% of the reforms laid down in the Growth Plan, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after the conclusion of the EU-Republic of Moldova summit, held on Monday in Brussels. The European Union was represented by the president of the European Council Antonio Costa the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Republic of Moldova by its president, Maia Sandu. According to a joint declaration issued at the end of the meeting, the partnership between the EU and Moldova has continued to grow stronger, anchored in the shared values of democracy, rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, international law, multilateralism and the rules-based international order. The document recalls that, in consecutive elections and in a referendum, Moldovan citizens expressed their sovereign choice for EU integration as a strategic objective. The EU is fully committed to providing continued political, economic, financial, technical and strategic support to the European path of Moldova, the declaration emphasises.
Cereals. Romania’s cereal and oilseed production is estimated at 30.5 million tonnes in 2026, the best harvest in the last five years, according to the forecast of COCEREAL, the European cereal and oilseed trade association. Romania produced over 29 million tonnes of cereals last year and exported 17.6 million tonnes, according to Eurostat data. Exports brought 5.3 billion Euros to the economy, almost 1 billion Euros more than in 2024. The estimated production for 2026 is 35% higher than in 2022. In the current season, heavy rains and snow in winter and spring are reflected in the evolution of crops, at least in the case of wheat, barley and rapeseed. For agriculture, the last few years have been difficult, marked by drought and heat, as well as by low prices, comparable to those of 5-10 years ago, which have also led to arrangement with creditors, insolvencies and bankruptcies in the sector, from farmers to traders, writes the Romanian newspaper Ziarul Financiar.
Festival. An eventful week began in Sibiu, in central Romania, with over 600 different events lined up for theatre lovers at International Theatre Festival hosted by this city in Transylvania. The festival got under way at the weekend, and boasted a variety of performances for all kinds of audiences, and many of which took place in unconventional and outdoor venues. In its fourth day, on Monday, the festival’s line-up included free outdoor performances, as well as shows broadcast online. The International Theatre Exchange in Sibiu opened in the morning, and the guests giving special talks include the great Romanian theatre director Silviu Purcărete and the American actress Cathy Hasse. This is the 33rd edition of the Festival, which is considered the most important even of its kind in Romania and the third largest in Europe. (CM)
