November 13, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 13.11.2026, 20:00
EU leaders finalize Ukraine negotiating team at Dublin Summit
Romanian President Nicușor Dan said in Dublin on Friday that Europeans must be at the negotiating table dedicated to ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking to the press at the close of the informal summit of the 27 EU leaders, President Dan confirmed that an agreement was reached on the structure of the team that will represent the bloc in the talks alongside representatives from Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington. According to AFP, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will lead the European representation, rounded out by Poland, Italy, the European Commission, and the European Council. Earlier in Dublin, President Dan stated that regardless of Russia’s plans and demands, no one will call into question Romania’s membership in Euro-Atlantic structures. The head of state added that despite the negotiations held earlier this week in Abu Dhabi, Moscow shows no signs of genuinely wanting peace.
President Nicușor will attend Francophonie Summit in Cambodia
Romanian President Nicușor Dan will participate on November 15–16 in the 20th edition of the Francophonie Summit, taking place in Cambodia, the Presidential Administration in Bucharest announced on Friday. Held under the theme “Reinvesting in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Stability,” the summit will bring together heads of state and government from the 53 full member countries of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). Delegates will also elect the new OIF Secretary-General, with Romania fielding its own candidate, former Prime Minister and European Commissioner Dacian Cioloș. Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Cioloș described his bid as a forward-looking project aimed at the entire organization and its member states across five continents, addressing today’s realities as well as the challenges of tomorrow and the years ahead. Four candidates are running for the post, with the vote scheduled for Monday at the close of the summit.
Interior Ministry steps up nationwide security ahead of weekend events and Christmas markets
Romanian Interior Minister Marian Neacșu ordered subordinate structures on Friday to step up public order and safety measures nationwide ahead of planned public gatherings, weekend sporting events, and the opening of Christmas markets. The measures focus primarily on maintaining public peace and order in crowded areas, preventing antisocial behavior, easing road traffic, monitoring main access routes, and ensuring rapid-response readiness in case of emergencies. Minister Neacșu added that he has also discussed these measures with local administration representatives.
Romania records second-highest Q3 growth in the EU
While the economies of the EU and the Eurozone saw modest quarter-on-quarter growth in Q3, Ireland and Romania led the bloc, according to preliminary Eurostat figures released Friday. Ireland topped the list with 5.5% GDP growth, followed by Romania at 2.1%, a rebound after stagnating in Q2 and contracting by 0.3% in Q1. Year-on-year, Romania’s GDP edged up 0.3% in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2025, following a 1.9% drop in Q2. Preliminary data from Bucharest’s National Statistics Institute (INS) sent to AGERPRES on Friday also confirmed the 2.1% quarterly expansion, though over the first nine months of the year, the economy contracted by 0.3% compared to 2025. Economic consultants warn that while the third-quarter uptick is a welcome breath of fresh air, it should not be mistaken for a full recovery: Romania has merely recouped the ground lost over the previous three quarters, returning to where it stood a year ago.
Cernavodă NPP returns to full output
Unit 1 of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant is being reconnected to the national grid today and is expected to reach its nominal output of 700 megawatts on Saturday. The reactor had been taken offline due to technical malfunctions just days after restarting from a controlled shutdown lasting more than three months, prompted by dropping water levels on the Danube. With Unit 2 already reconnected on Wednesday, both Cernavodă reactors will be running at maximum capacity by Saturday, generating 20% of Romania’s total energy. This will help reduce costly power imports, which remain high largely because Romania’s two Danube hydroelectric plants are running at reduced output due to the river’s low flow. Hydrologists estimate the Danube’s flow could reach 2,300 cubic meters per second by next Thursday, still well below the seasonal multiannual average of 4,700 cubic meters per second.
Bucharest and Berlin pledge closer defense cooperation
Defense Minister Ștefan Radu Oprea met with German Ambassador Angela Ganninger in Bucharest on Friday for talks focused on regional security and strengthening bilateral defense cooperation. “Germany is one of Romania’s most important allies, and we want to develop this relationship bilaterally, within NATO, and at the European level”, Oprea wrote on social media following the meeting.
Cristian Mungiu leads Romania as “Country of Focus” at the American Film Market
Acclaimed director Cristian Mungiu is leading Romania’s delegation at the 2026 American Film Market, where Romania has been designated “Country of Focus” for the first time in the event’s history, the Ministry of Culture announced. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES, Mungiu is presenting his latest film, Fjord, Romania’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. Mungiu is a two-time Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, having won for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) and Fjord (2026). The Ministry of Culture noted that the “Country of Focus” spotlight brings Romanian cinema to the forefront of one of the global film industry’s premier international gatherings. (VP)
