September 14, 2026
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 14.09.2026, 13:55
Summit. President Nicușor Dan is today attending the European Arctic Summit taking place in Finland. The meeting is held at the initiative of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and brings together European leaders and representatives of European institutions. The summit aims to strengthen the European Union’s strategic approach to the Arctic region given its growing geopolitical, economic and climatic importance. According to a statement from the president’s office, Nicușor Dan will present Romania’s vision for a coherent and unified approach to the challenges facing the entire area stretching from the Arctic to the Black Sea, given the interconnected nature of security challenges in these regions. He will also highlight Romania’s readiness to contribute to joint EU and NATO efforts, including through projects concerning critical infrastructure protection, defence capabilities and energy security.
Nomination. Romanian President Nicușor Dan might make a new nomination for the position of prime minister towards the end of this week. He has postponed the move because political parties have failed to overcome their differences, talk together and secure the necessary legislative majority of at least 233 votes. The Social Democratic Party has said it is ready to enter government. The National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union do not wish to form a government together with the Social Democrats. The Liberals are proposing the idea of a “truce government” made up of specialists. The three parties do not rule out the scenario of snap elections, an idea the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, from the nationalist opposition, has supported since the political crisis began. Romania’s current government, made up of the Liberals, the Save Romania Union and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, was dismissed in May following a vote of no-confidence initiated by the Social Democrats and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians. Since then, two nominations by the president for the position of prime minister have been unsuccessful.
Energy. Romania’s interim government is considering continuing interventions on the Danube this week to ensure t water for the Cernavodă nuclear power plant (in the southeast). The plant’s two operational units were temporarily shut down due to the river’s very low water level. The government agenda this week also features a measure to increase the total value of the state aid scheme aimed at reducing excise duties on diesel fuel used in agriculture. This proposal, under which aid is supplemented by some 19.2 million euros, was drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture. Late last week, the price of diesel at gas stations across the country hit a new all-time high of around 2 euros per liter.
Award. The feature film I Matter, written and directed by Alina Şerban, won the Audience Award at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The film, featuring dialogue in both Romanian and Romani, is a co-production between Romania, Germany and Belgium and is Alina Şerban’s directorial debut. She is the first Roma female director from Romania to present a feature film at the Venice festival. She was previously in Venice in 2023 as part of the cast of the feature film “Housekeeping for Beginners,” directed by Goran Stolevski, which was screened in the Orizzonti section.
Volleyball. The Romanian men’s volleyball team are today facing Turkey in Cluj-Napoca in their fourth match of the 2026 European Championship co-hosted by Italy, Bulgaria, Finland and Romania from September 9 to 26. In their first three Group D matches, Romania lost to Latvia 3–1 and to Germany 3–2 before defeating Switzerland 3–1. On Wednesday, also in Cluj-Napoca, Romania will face France in their final group match. France currently lead the standings, followed by Germany and Romania. The four best-ranked sides will qualify for the round of last 16. (CM)
