March 17, 2026 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 17.03.2026, 20:00

NADIA – Former Romanian champion in gymnastics, Nadia Comăneci, was celebrated on Tuesday in Brussels, at the European Parliament, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first 10 in the history at the Olympic Games, which she got. She participated in the conference “European Values and Excellence: The Legacy of Nadia Comăneci, 50 Years On”. “In sports, the world speaks the same language and the entire planet comes together when it comes to sports. Sports represent a country, a community, a culture and I am grateful that this moment was honored”, said Nadia Comăneci. In July 2025, President Nicuşor Dan signed the decree for the promulgation of the Law establishing the year 2026 as the “Year of Nadia Comăneci”, to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary performance of the Romanian gymnast at the 21st edition of the Summer Olympic Games, held in 1976, in Montreal. In an absolute premiere, the Romanian received a score of 10 on the parallel bars, a score that could not be displayed by the electronic scoreboard. The electronic equipment dedicated to gymnastics did not have, at the time, a score of 10 programmed, because no one believed that it could ever be achieved.

MEMORANDUM – Romania signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding with China on cooperation in the field of agriculture. The document was signed in Beijing by Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu. The agreement establishes a solid framework for bilateral cooperation in key areas, such as food security, investment in agriculture, agri-food processing, research and innovation, as well as the exchange of modern technologies, opening up new opportunities for access to foreign markets. In a post published on a social network, Florin Barbu announced the finalization of technical details for three sectoral protocols to be signed, targeting the export of heat-treated poultry meat, dairy products and fish. At the same time, the minister stressed that negotiations to expand exports of cereals and pork products are at an advanced stage. The memorandum is valid for five years with the possibility of extension.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS – Romania’s main priority is supporting the integration of candidate states into the EU, said Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu on Tuesday, attending the ministerial conference organized in Trieste on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI). Toiu said that Romania is also focused on strengthening societal resilience, an essential element in the current geopolitical context. “We place particular emphasis on economic and digital connectivity, promoting projects that reduce development gaps and facilitate the integration of young people into the labor market at regional level, thus transforming Central and Eastern Europe into a pole of innovation and stability,” said Oana Ţoiu in her speech. Romania holds the CEI presidency during 2026.

BUDGET– Romania’s state budget for 2026 were sent, Tuesday morning, to the joint Finance Committees of the Parliament in Bucharest, with amendments that change by one billion lei (the equivalent of about 200 million euros) the figures in the project of the 4-party government, the Liberal PM Ilie Bolojan said. PSD and UDMR (both in co-government) and AUR (nationalist, in opposition) have imposed additional funds for the so-called solidarity package, which includes support measures for pensioners with low incomes and for children with disabilities or who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The sources of financing identified by the Social Democrats would come from the increase in fuel prices and from the recovery of debts of some companies to the budget. The Liberals say that, in fact, this is virtual money, and the Ministry of Finance insists on using community funds, so as not to jeopardize the reduction of the budget deficit, one of the largest in the European Union.

FILM – Director Natalie Musteaţă, winner of this year’s Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film, with the film ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’, will open the American Independent Film Festival in Bucharest, from June 5 to 7. The first Romanian-born Oscar-winning filmmaker will take the festival stage in an open talk about the experiences that changed her personal and professional life, as well as the path that led her to the Oscar. ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ will be screened at the opening of the American Independent Film Festival in Bucharest. It is a dystopian short film that takes place in an absurd society where kissing is forbidden and punishable by death, and people pay for goods by getting slapped in the face. The film explores themes such as repression, desire, social control and the fragility of personal freedoms, suggesting that simple gestures of tenderness can become acts of resistance in an authoritarian system. (EE)