April 1, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 01.04.2026, 20:00
FUELS Petrol and diesel prices dropped on Wednesday at the stations of the main fuel distributor in Romania, OMV Petrom, after a government order capping the commercial mark-up on fuels came into force. In the capital city Bucharest, the price of diesel dropped by almost 10 Eurocents, to roughly EUR 1.90, while the petrol price dropped to EUR 1.83 per litre, according to Profit.ro. Specialists expect companies like Rompetrol, MOL and Lukoil to also cut prices. On Tuesday, compared to February 28, the date of the first US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the average price of standard petrol had risen by EUR 0.28, and diesel by EUR 0.43 per litre. The government order, which came into force on Wednesday, stipulates that until June 30 business operators that produce, import, distribute or sell fuels will apply commercial mark-ups at the average level of last year. Fines between 0.5 and 1% of the turnover reported in 2025 will be issued for violations of the order. Also during the 3-month period, biofuel in petrol will be reduced from 8% to 2%, while diesel and crude oil may only be exported with the approval of the ministries of energy and economy. Again, fines will be issued in case of violations, ranging between 5% and 10% of the turnover. The government is also considering other measures to mitigate the increase in fuel prices.
ENERGY Oil supplies from the Middle East will be further disrupted in April, which will begin to affect the European economy, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz severely reducing supplies, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol warned on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The European Commission urges member states to take measures to save fuel. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, the Commission is also considering maintaining high retail prices to discourage consumption. Other recommendations include working from home if possible, using public transport, reducing speed by at least 10 km per hour for lower consumption or carpooling. Public authorities could also introduce alternating use of cars based on license plate numbers.
LABOUR Romania reported the second-lowest labour costs in the European Union last year, in spite of seeing the highest increase compared to the previous year, by over 10%, according to data made public by Eurostat. In 2025, the average hourly labour costs in the EU were EUR 34.9. The lowest costs were reported in Bulgaria, EUR 12, in Romania, EUR 13.6, and in Hungary, EUR 15.2, while the highest in Luxembourg (EUR 56.8), Denmark (EUR 51.7) and the Netherlands (EUR 47.9). Labour costs include two components: wages and benefits on the one hand, and non-wage costs, such as social contributions paid by employers.
FOODSTUFFS The Government has extended the cap on commercial mark-ups on basic foods until June 30 this year. The list of products subject to this decision includes white bread, yogurt, eggs, oil, chicken and pork, as well as flour, fresh fruits and vegetables. The cap has been in force for 15 months, and is regularly renewed under emergency orders. On the other hand, the Cabinet has passed a resolution under which the salaries of employees in several industrial companies of strategic interest that are close to bankruptcy (amounting to over EUR 50 million) can be paid by the Easter holidays. At the Damen Mangalia shipyard, on the Black Sea, the over 1,000 employees who have not received their salaries for 3 months continued their protests for the 9th consecutive day on Tuesday. They announced they would protest until April 6, when the meeting of creditors is scheduled to discuss the company’s reorganisation plan.
CORRUPTION The head of the Romanian Road Authority, Cristian Anton, was placed under pre-trial arrest after the Cluj County Court approved the request of anti-corruption prosecutors in a case in which he is accused of bribe-taking, using information not intended for the public and forming an organised crime group, judicial sources told AGERPRES. The investigation concerns corruption related to exams for the professional certification of freight drivers. Cristian Anton is suspected of being part of an organised group that charged between EUR 600 and EUR 1,500 to guarantee success in the exams. Legal sources say that EUR 500,000 were found during searches at the home of the Road Authority official.
MOLDOVA President Nicuşor Dan and PM Ilie Bolojan Tuesday assured Moldova’s PM Alexandru Munteanu in Bucharest that the Republic of Moldova can always count on Romania’s support, whether it concerns accession to the European Union, ensuring energy security or increasing resilience in the face of hybrid threats. In turn, Alexandru Munteanu thanked Romania for its support and collaboration. At a specialised event organised in Bucharest, he stated that the Moldova is facing multiple crises generated by the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gulf. According to him, the Republic of Moldova is affected by rising prices, disruption of energy supply, river pollution and invasion of its airspace with drones.
DEVELOPMENT The current growth model of the Romanian economy, based on EU funding and low costs, has reached its limits and must be restructured, the deputy PM Oana Gheorghiu said. She stressed that a radical change is needed that requires solid public institutions and financial discipline. Gheorghiu pointed out that Romania has over 1,500 companies, which over the years have accrued losses of almost EUR 2.75 billion. She announced that 22 state-owned companies, chosen by the relevant ministries, will be analysed and, depending on the findings, will be restructured, closed, or nominated for Stock Exchange listing.
MEETING The government of Romania Wednesday hosted a strategic meeting between companies in the Ukrainian drone industry and officials in the Romanian defence industry. According to a government news release, the main goal of the meeting was to facilitate direct links between business entities in the two countries, in order to boost technical dialogue and create a solid professional network. The talks focused on the development of projects and partnerships in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and advanced detection and countermeasure systems (Anti-UAS). As Mihai Jurca, head of the Prime Minister’s staff, pointed out, “We want to capitalise on the experience gained by the Ukrainian partners on the battlefield, and to develop together efficient defence solutions adapted to current needs, which will contribute to strengthening national and regional security.” (AMP)
