May 22, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Daniel Bilț, 22.05.2026, 13:45
SAFE Romania’s interim Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, has today said that by signing the SAFE agreement with the European Union, Romania will have major advantages starting with the modernization of its army. Bucharest will be getting access to a European credit of roughly 16.7 million Euros – the second most significant allotment in the EU under this instrument after Poland – for investment in defence, security or strategic infrastructure. In the meantime the senators in the committee for constitutionality have been given a deadline until next week to edit the viewpoint on the notification issued by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Social-Democrat Sorin Grindeanu. Grindeanu points out to a legal conflict of constitutional nature between Parliament and the government for the emergency ordinance focusing on investment through the SAFE programme. Grindeanu says the Executive talked on and endorsed the ordinance after being dismissed through a vote of no confidence and had no legal right to make such decisions. Furthermore, the PSD leader says the document included provisions, which are not linked to the programme of investment in defence. In turn, the interim Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, leader of the PNL says the notification is a ‘publicity stunt’.
WAGES The presidential administration in Bucharest has announced on Friday that upon a mediation process held under its coordination, the PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR from the former government coalition have signed an agreement pledging to endorse the new salary law in the public sector by the end of the present Parliamentary session. The law, which is an essential stage in the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience, has July 1st as deadline. According to the presidency, public employees’ incomes will not be cut after its endorsement and the salary expenses in 2027 are not going to exceed the expenses in 2026 by more than 1.6 billion Euros. At the same time Romania will not find itself in a situation where it may not meet the fiscal goals assumed. The new salary law is going to come into effect on January 1, 2027, and will not see further amendments.
VISIT A delegation of the Romanian Ministry of Defence headed by Minister Radu Miruta pays a working visit to the Romanian detachment ‘Carpathian Vipers’ deployed to an airbase in Lithuania. On the sidelines of the visit, Minister Miruta has a bilateral meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, Robertas Kaunas. The 100-strong Romanian detachment backed by six F-16 fighters is providing air police service over April and July 2026, the Romanian Defence Ministry says in a press release. This has been the fourth deployment of the Romanian air force to Lithuania, where they ensured the protection of the airspace of the Baltic countries and NATO.
THEATER The 15th edition of the International Shakespeare Festival got underway in Craiova, southern Romania on Thursday. Staged every other year, the festival includes over 450 events and brings together artists from the world over until May 31. Theatre lovers will be able to watch performances at the local National Theatre as well as in other locations or enjoy outdoor performances around the city. Productions inspired by the works of the great playwright will be available free of charge in squares, districts, malls and other locations in the metropolitan areas. This year’s edition boasts the largest agenda including among other things concerts, exhibitions, workshops, interactive installations, conferences, book launches or film screenings.
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