November 14, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 14.11.2026, 20:00
Diplomacy: Romania backs Dacian Cioloș at Francophonie Summit
President Nicușor Dan will participate tomorrow and Monday in Cambodia at the 20th Francophonie Summit. For Romania, a Francophone and Francophile nation, the most important stake of the meeting is building consensus around the candidacy of Dacian Cioloș, former Prime Minister and former European Commissioner, for the position of Secretary-General of La Francophonie for the 2027–2030 term.
According to the Presidential Administration, Cioloș puts forward a credible and ambitious vision for relaunching and developing the Francophone community. A successful bid would allow Romania to strengthen its influence within the Francophone space, consolidate its relations with member states and secure benefits in key areas of interest. The decision regarding the appointment of the new Secretary-General will be made by the leaders of the 53 full member states during the November 16 session.
In the context of the 20th Francophonie Summit, from November 13 to 17, Romania is also represented at the Village de la Francophonie with a cultural and institutional program aimed at boosting the visibility of Romanian culture in the Francophone world and developing new opportunities for international cooperation.
Legal & economy: Romania wins final Roșia Montană arbitration case
Romania won a final victory on Friday in the international arbitration dispute over the Roșia Montană gold mining project in the center of the country, in which the Canadian company Gabriel Resources was seeking $6.5 billion in damages.
“It is an important victory for Romania, showing that the Romanian state has the capacity to defend its interests, national resources and public money, while simultaneously respecting its commitments to good-faith investors”, Prime Minister Luca Niculescu reacted on Saturday on Facebook. In turn, the Ministry of Finance stated in a press release that the outcome confirms the Romanian authorities’ decisions regarding environmental protection, cultural heritage and the interests of local communities were fair and lawful.
In 1999, Gabriel Resources obtained an operating license for the Roșia Montană gold mine project, which would have become the largest gold mine in Europe. In 2013, however, the government in Bucharest decided not to approve the mine’s exploitation after thousands of people took to the streets, arguing that the use of cyanide in the gold extraction process would destroy the area. Dissatisfied, Gabriel Resources claimed that Bucharest had violated bilateral investment promotion and protection treaties concluded with Canada and demanded massive compensation.
Meanwhile, in 2021, Roșia Montană was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. The area houses the most significant, extensive and technically diverse underground Roman gold-mining complex dating back to antiquity.
Business & trade: Romanian economic delegation heads to Qatar
Romania is seeking partners in Qatar for projects in energy, port infrastructure, tourism, transport and digitalization. A delegation led by the Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Daniel Zamfir, will pay a visit to the State of Qatar from November 15 to 18 to identify business and investment opportunities in these strategic sectors.
The delegation includes eight Romanian companies from both the public and private sectors. The agenda includes, among other engagements, meetings with representatives of the Qatar Investment Authority, the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Qatari Businessmen Association, as well as the Barzan Holdings group, which operates in the defense and security industry.
Culture & tourism: Craiova opens expansive Christmas Market
With the lighting of more than two million festive lights, the Christmas Market opened on Friday evening in Craiova, an event that the mayor of the southern Romanian city, Lia Olguța Vasilescu, claims is the largest in the world.
The market’s area, organized this year under the theme “Land of the Elves”, has been expanded to 27 hectares, and local authorities are expecting a record number of visitors, including international tourists. Strong emphasis is placed on Christian Christmas traditions in the choice of decorations, colors, and culinary specialties, aiming to give foreign visitors the opportunity to discover the unique character of Romanian holidays.
Among the market’s attractions are a 21-meter-tall Christmas tree with a miniature train running inside it, a massive Santa Claus installation, a flying sleigh, and a themed labyrinth. At its previous edition, the Craiova Christmas Market was named “The Most Beautiful Christmas Market in Europe”, following votes cast on the European Best Destinations platform. (VP)
