The Week in Review – June 7-12, 2026
The headline-grabbing events of this past week.
Corina Cristea, 13.06.2026, 14:00
Talks for a new government in Bucharest
Tasked by President Nicușor Dan with the almost impossible mission of securing political support for what he called a technical government, the designated prime minister, Eugen Tomac, held talks this week with representatives of the parties and parliamentary groups, but received no clear signal of support. A total of 233 favorable votes are needed for a cabinet to pass, but for now the designated prime minister seems far from reaching that goal. Despite the signals coming from the parties, he stated that he will continue the effort to form the new government.
The first firm response came from the National Liberal Party (PNL), which unanimously decided that its MPs will not vote for the Tomac government. In the Liberals’ view, such an executive would serve as a shield to spare the Social Democratic Party (PSD) from responsibility for the situation the country has reached. The USR argued that a technocratic cabinet would not have the strength to continue the reforms initiated by the Bolojan team, while no support signals are coming from the UDMR either. PSD, the party with the largest share in Parliament, is conditioning its support on the cancellation of austerity measures, and a clear decision will be made in the coming days. In this context, the head of state sent a firm message to politicians, appealing to responsibility, urging Romanians to remain calm and hopeful, and assuring partners that “Romania stays the course.”
Forecasts for the advance of the Romanian economy
The World Bank has revised downward its forecasts for the advance of the Romanian economy, which is expected to register zero growth this year, compared with the 1.3% increase projected in January. According to the latest World Bank report, published Thursday, Romania’s GDP is expected to grow by 1.7% next year and by 2% in 2028. Since January, the most significant forecast deteriorations have been in Romania, Turkey, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, mainly due to the shock in commodity prices, the report notes. According to the World Bank, fiscal deficits are expected to remain high over the next two years because of planned defense spending and temporary economic measures such as domestic subsidies and price control policies meant to mitigate the impact of higher energy prices. The National Institute of Statistics also shows that Romania’s trade deficit continues to narrow this year, but the statistical data hide a less optimistic reality for the economy. In the first four months of the year, exports increased by 1.9% to almost 32 billion euros, while imports fell by 0.5% to 42.8 billion. Under these conditions, the trade deficit decreased by 7%, or nearly 820 million euros, reaching 10.815 billion euros.
Strengthening defense at the Black Sea
The North Atlantic Council, meeting Wednesday in Brussels at Romania’s request, decided that defense at the Black Sea must be strengthened in the face of Russian threats, following serious drone incidents in southeastern Romania, in Galați and in the port of Constanța, which resulted in two people being injured. The decision is expected to be confirmed at the NATO summit in Turkey at the beginning of next month. According to Alliance sources, Romania will receive the assistance it requested on both fronts, air and naval. Beyond the countries mentioned so far in official statements—such as France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, or the United States—other allies have reportedly confirmed that they are assessing the equipment they can send to Romania. President Nicușor Dan welcomed the support promised by the North Atlantic Council. In a message on Facebook, he emphasized that Black Sea security is essential for protecting critical infrastructure and strategic energy projects. Meanwhile, in a phone conversation, the interim foreign minister, Oana Țoiu, expressed to her Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, Romania’s concern about the spillover effects of the war in Ukraine on neighboring countries. The Romanian official received assurances regarding Kyiv’s commitment to make all efforts for the joint management of cross border risks generated by Russian aggression. The discussions also addressed improving early warning mechanisms and operational awareness, as well as the shared responsibility to keep the Black Sea safe.
Romania–US agreement to combat child trafficking
The Romanian government and the US Department of State concluded on Thursday a framework agreement aimed at combating child trafficking through an integrated approach. The strategic program will run for five years and will receive approximately 12 million dollars in funding from the United States, focusing on prevention, victim protection, and strengthening the capacity of law enforcement institutions and the judicial system.
Interim Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu noted that despite changes in governments and their composition, the fight against human trafficking has become in recent years a constant priority for Romanian authorities, and she stressed that the phenomenon affects not only the direct victims but society as a whole. For his part, the US ambassador to Bucharest, Darryl Nirenberg, warned that human trafficking is a modern form of slavery and can only be combated through international cooperation. (EE)
