May 9, 2026

A roundup of local and world news

Newsroom, 09.05.2026, 13:55

EUROPE For Romania, 20 years as a European Union member state have meant modernisation and, more importantly, improved living standards, president Nicusor Dan said on Europe Day. During this period, Romania has paid EUR 36 billion and received EUR 110 billion, the president also mentioned. Today Romania is credible, it knows how to act within the European Union, how to make alliances to support its policies and, therefore, how to protect its interests as other countries in the Union do, the head of state emphasised. According to him, Europe and Romania need the European Union to have a fair, solid, and balanced partnership with the United States, and Romania is a supporter of such a partnership. The government also celebrates Europe Day with the Victoria Palace lit in the colours of the European Union. “Built on the foundation of the ideals of peace, solidarity and economic development, the relevance of which is still strong today, the EU remains our community that directs its efforts towards ensuring the prosperity and security of its citizens,” reads a statement issued on Saturday by the government. The acting PM Ilie Bolojan sent a message on Europe Day, stating that Romania’s modernisation is ‘a tough fight’. He thanked those who are taking to the streets today to support democratic values. A rally themed ‘One way – Europe’ is held on Saturday in Romania’s capital city. EU membership is the firmest guarantee of transparency and justice, the organisers of the event argue.

SURVEY On Europe Day, most Romanians believe EU membership has benefited the country. A recent Eurobarometer survey shows that 69% of Romanians share this opinion and that a growing number of Europeans in general see the EU as a source of stability in a complicated world and give unprecedented support to a common defence and security policy. The survey also shows that most Europeans are concerned with the global situation and the cost of living. 41% of the Romanians surveyed say the biggest economic problems at national level are rising prices and inflation. In the survey, 76% of Europeans believe the EU should support Ukraine until a just and sustainable peace is reached. In Romania, 56% of the interviewees approve of financial and humanitarian support for Kyiv, but only 45% support the financing of military equipment.

JUDICIARY Romania launches the first national cooperation framework on artificial intelligence in the judiciary, the Presidency announced on Saturday. According to the source, the first edition of the ‘Just.AI – Artificial Intelligence at the Service of the Judicial System’ Forum marks the beginning of a long-term strategic approach focusing on how new technologies can support the functioning of justice without affecting the fundamental values ​​of the rule of law. The forum, part of the ‘European Week at Cotroceni Palace’, brought together officials from all the institutions in the judicial system (courts, prosecutors’ offices, criminal investigation bodies) along with academia and researcher, the technology sector, legal professions and international experts involved in the development and regulation of artificial intelligence. The forum concluded with the signing of the ‘Just.AI – Artificial Intelligence at the Service of the Judicial System’ Memorandum, underlying the first broad institutional framework for cooperation and strategic reflection among the participating authorities and organisations.

ADMINISTRATION Romania’s public administration has systematically operated without transparency, has been oversized and inefficient, and public funding is distributed unfairly. These are the conclusions of a large-scale report on the size, costs and performance of the administrative apparatus, released by the government and based on the data available in 2024 for more than 14,000 public entities subordinated to the government. There are around 1,255,000 filled and paid posts, over 14,500 employees receive public salaries and pensions at the same time, and almost 200,000 people have two or more individual employment contracts, some in the public sector and some in the private sector. On the other hand, there are major inconsistencies in the allocation of governmental and EU resources between counties and administrative-territorial units, without a clear correlation with real needs or administrative performance. The report shows that there are, however, many examples of good practices, where public authorities have good performances in terms of increasing revenues from multiple sources, and cutting expenditures that do not benefit their communities.

SPORTS Romania Friday night qualified into the semi-finals of the women’s 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, after defeating France 3-1. They secured their presence in the top 3 teams, which brings Romania its first medal at the World Championships in 26 years. To secure a place in the final, Romania faces world leader China on Saturday. In tennis, the Romanian Sorana Cîrstea, the country’s only remaining representative in the third round of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Rome, plays against the world leader Arina Sabalenka (Belarus). On Friday night, Jaqueline Cristian lost in three sets to Karolina Pliskova (Czechia). (AMP)