September 1, 2026

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 01.09.2026, 13:50

Funding. August 31 was the European Union deadline for completing all milestones, targets, and projects funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Out of a total recalculated budget of approximately 20 billion euros, Romania has only attracted around 13 billion euros, permanently losing significant sums due to political gridlock and delays. The Romanian Parliament urgently passed a law stipulating that work carried out after August 31 will no longer be reimbursed using European funds but will instead be covered out of local or state budgets or other funding sources. If beneficiaries fail to complete the projects by December 31, 2026, they will be required to repay all previously received funds.

Diplomacy. Romania contributes to transatlantic security, the security of NATO’s and the EU’s eastern flank and the security of its own region, president Nicușor Dan told members of the diplomatic corps during the Annual Meeting of the Romanian Diplomatic Service. He recalled that Romania will begin operations at the Neptun Deep gas field next year, emphasising that the Black Sea is vital for the country’s and Europe’s security, as well as for future economic relations with the Caspian region and Asia. The president also explained that Romania aims to help counter hybrid threats in Europe. He added that he hoped that after the installation of the future government, regardless of its political makeup, a number of administrative issues facing Romanian diplomacy would be resolved, such as the situation of certain diplomatic buildings and the delayed rotation of diplomatic staff.

Parliament. Romania’s two-chamber Parliament begins its autumn session today. The first day is dedicated to electing the leadership of both chambers and of the party representatives to the permanent bureaus. Key priorities for the session include the vote on a new government with full powers, the reorganisation of the public administration and of state-owned enterprises and electoral reform. Other topics on its agenda are the unified wage system in the public sector and healthcare system funding, as well as the high school admission system in the field of education. Romania has had a careteker government since May 5, when the minority cabinet formed by the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Democratic Union if Ethnic Hungarians in Romnania and led by the Liberal leader Ilie Bolojan was dismissed by Parliament in a vote of no-confidence. After MEP Eugen Tomac, initially designated as the prime ministerial candidate withdrew, dissident Liberal Adrian Veştea was nominated but failed to secure the necessary endorsements in Parliamentary.

EU meeting. Acting foreign Minister Oana Țoiu and acting defence Minister Radu Miruță are attending a European Union meeting in Ireland today. The meeting focuses on the escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the rise in hybrid and drone attacks against European states attributed to Moscow. Participants aim to find ways for member states possessing Patriot interceptors to urgently supply Ukraine with this defence technology. Additionally, the meeting is to see further talks on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, an idea strongly advocated by Spain, Portugal, Sweden and The Netherlands, but blocked last year by Belgium.

Memoir. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in Bucharest to present her memoir, Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021. Readers in Romania can meet her at two public events: an autograph session today and a discussion at the Romanian Athenaeum with journalist and diplomat Emil Hurezeanu. Angela Merkel’s memoir was released internationally in 2024 in more than 30 countries. Bucharest is one of the few places, alongside capitals such as Berlin, Washington, Budapest and Athens, where the former German Chancellor has chosen to personally attend the book’s launch. In the book, she reflects on her childhood and youth in the former German Democratic Republic, a communist satellite of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginnings of her political career. She also provides insight into the decisions made during her 16 years at the helm of the German government and her encounters with foreign leaders. Angela Merkel served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, being the first woman to hold this office. (CM)