March 19, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 19.03.2026, 20:07
BUDGET The budget-finance committees of the Parliament in Bucharest on Thursday approved the 2026 draft budget with 38 yes votes and 13 against after the first form proposed by the government had been adjusted through a series of amendments. According to the timetable presented by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, Parliament will give its final voting on the budget on Friday. We recall the Executive in Bucharest last Thursday endorsed the draft budget built on an economic growth of 1%, a budget deficit over 27 billion Euros and an annual inflation rate of 6.5%.
NATO Romania plays a strategic role in the North Atlantic Alliance on the eastern flank, including in the Black Sea region, vital for our common security, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, after his meeting in Brussels with Romanian President Nicuşor Dan. “We are vigilant and ready to defend every centimeter of allied territory,” Rutte said adding “we count on Romania and Romania can always count on NATO.” The NATO official appreciated the fact that Bucharest allotted 2.5% of its GDP to Defence and recalled that Romania is a staunch supporter of Ukraine. In turn, President Dan said the talks focused on the security of Romania and NATO, and also on new capabilities for the countries on the Eastern Flank, hybrid challenges and the situation in Ukraine. “Romania has clearly positioned itself regarding the importance of the transatlantic relationship by hosting American defensive equipment,” said President Nicuşor Dan, who has also announced that the NATO Secretary General will come to Romania in May for the B9 Summit. After the meeting at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Nicuşor Dan will participate in the summit of European leaders, where, in addition to the topic of Ukraine, the economic effects of the war in the Middle East will be discussed amid the alarming increase in the price of natural gas and oil. In this context, Romania and other nine members are calling on the European Union to relax the green transition in order to reduce the price of energy and avoid destroying the industry. Nicusor Dan will be received on Friday by King Philippe of Belgium.
DIPLOMACY The Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu has announced that there are no direct threats from Iran, and Romanians can still feel safe. On Monday, Iran’s diplomacy, through its spokesperson, claimed that Romania could respond politically and legally, following the decision of the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) and the Parliament’s vote to allow the temporary deployment of American military equipment and forces in Romania in the context of the war in the Middle East. Romania, which is not a party to the conflict, prioritizes the diplomatic effort for de-escalation – the Romanian Foreign Ministry responded.
FAIR Romania is participating, from Thursday to Sunday, in the Leipzig Book Fair, one of the most important European events dedicated to literature and the publishing industry. The theme of this year’s edition brings to the fore the cultural space of the Danube and the dialogue between the literary identities of the ten riparian countries, including Romania. The country’s stand, which, again this year, is the largest in the Central and Eastern European area, will host over 20 events, such as book launches, public readings, debates and professional meetings. Visitors will also be able to discover over 100 recent titles, including 13 new translations into German, available through the bookstore organized by Diasporaciteşte.eu. The Leipzig Book Fair brings together over 2,000 exhibitors from dozens of countries and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
PROTESTS Around 300 miners protested again on Wednesday in Târgu Jiu (southwest) concerned about job security. They blocked several streets and marched from the Oltenia Energy Complex headquarters to the city center. The protests began a week and a half ago, when several dozen miners went to Bucharest, where they went on a hunger strike in front of the Energy Ministry. People are unhappy that around 1,500 employees, whose employment contracts were concluded for a fixed period, will be without jobs from the beginning of April. The Complex’s management has recently announced that it will conduct a personnel analysis at the level of each subunit where activity is being curtailed.
(bill)
