The Week in Review (03-07 .08.2026)
The headline-grabbing events of the past week in Romania
Roxana Vasile, 08.08.2026, 14:00
Energy Alert
Romania is under an energy alert throughout August, due to a significant reduction in electricity production caused by the drought, which has considerably lowered river flows. Just a few days after Reactor 1 at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant (in the southeast) was shut down due to the very low water level of the Danube, authorities warned that Reactor 2 could also become unavailable for the same reason. Romania could thus lose approximately 20% of its national electricity production, requiring imports of over 2,500 MW. To prevent such a scenario, it was decided to divert significant volumes of water from the Danube to Reactor 2 at Cernavodă by carrying out a controlled detonation of a rock formation and sinking four barges loaded with stone. At the same time, the interim government in Bucharest announced that hydroelectric power plants will operate at maximum capacity, and production will be concentrated, as much as possible, during the evening hours, when consumption is highest. An appeal was also issued calling for voluntary electricity conservation by the general public, as well as by public institutions and companies. Furthermore, the interim government has established the legal framework to impose mandatory consumption limits on large consumers during peak periods. A national operations center for the energy sector has also been established.
Where Are Fuel Prices Headed?
Fuel prices have continued to frustrate Romanians. At some gas stations, the price of standard diesel approached 11 lei (2.20 euros), while gasoline exceeded 10 lei (2 euros). In this context, President Nicuşor Dan announced that he had signed into law a bill that will reduce excise taxes on diesel and cap the markup, so that lower prices for this fuel are expected to take effect in the middle of this month. According to Dumitru Chisăliţă, president of the Smart Energy Association, as quoted by Agerpres, Romania is, however, witnessing a veritable “Black Friday” for diesel, given that the price is first driven up and then reduced to the level it should never have left, and the entire operation is presented as a major success for the government. This farce, says Dumitru Chisăliţă, is far more serious, because every penny unjustifiably added at the pump is passed on in the prices of food, construction materials, services, and all transported goods. In fact, according to Eurostat, retail trade volume in Romania fell by more than 6.5% in June 2026, compared to the same month last year. The most recent data published by the National Institute of Statistics in Bucharest also indicate a steady decline in consumer spending, and analysts warn that this trend will continue. The economy is experiencing a slowdown in growth, which experts say could signal a recession, and the situation is complicated by high inflation.
Laws Adopted During the Extraordinary Parliamentary Session
Convened for an extraordinary session, the Senate in Bucharest adopted a bill, a 1 billion euro milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), on biodiversity conservation. The bill was approved in the form previously amended by deputies, with Romania’s strictly protected areas reduced by half. The PNL and USR argue that the country thus risks coming into conflict with European Commission rules, while the PSD asserts that the interests of local communities and infrastructure projects are being protected. The law on decarbonization in the energy sector was also hotly debated in Parliament; it includes a PSD amendment criticized by the USR and PNL, mines may be closed only after new production capacities have been established. Also this week, the USR and PNL asked the Constitutional Court to rule on another adopted law, the integrity law, which is also a milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). They are dissatisfied with two amendments that have raised suspicions of violating the Constitution. The PSD accuses the two parties of attempting, through their action, at the cost of blocking 771 million euros in European funds, to protect USR leader Dominic Fritz, who could be affected by the newly passed law after he was recently convicted definitively for conflict of interest. Finally, for his part, President Nicuşor Dan announced that he had promulgated a series of laws to meet the critical milestones of the PNRR and ratify the SAFE agreement.
Untold 2026
Untold, the world’s third-ranked festival of electronic music and more, kicked off on Thursday in Cluj-Napoca (northwest). Over the course of four days and four nights, concerts, shows, and numerous other events are taking place across eight stages. With a width of 127 meters and a height of 38 meters, the main stage is the largest ever built in the festival’s history, bringing approximately 200 local and international artists to Romania this year. Each day, the organizers have scheduled a headliner: Sting, Zara Larsson, Lewis Capaldi, and Flo Rida. On Thursday, over 100,000 people attended the highlight of the event – the concert by British artist Sting. The crowd was so large that organizers were forced to close the gates of Cluj Arena for safety reasons. Sting’s concert was preceded by a speech from an Indian guru. Untold will conclude at dawn on Monday with the music of Padre Guilherme, a Catholic priest from Portugal famous for the way he blends religious hymns with electronic music. (LS)
