Timisoara becomes 53rd member of EBRD Green Cities urban sustainability programme European Union will provide €53.6 million grant for €87.2 million infrastructure programme The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will lend €20.3 million (or RON 100 million) to the Romanian city of Timisoara to co-finance, alongside the European Union (EU), key infrastructure projects for the period 2020-2023, the Bank informs. These include the renewal of its tram fleet and the rehabilitation of its T5 tram line, as well as two consultancies to support the City’s public transport reforms. The project will serve as Timisoara’s “trigger” investment, making it the 53rd member of the flagship EBRD Green Cities urban sustainability programme. The €5 billion EBRD Green Cities programme was set up in 2016. Under the programme, cities develop a Green City Action Plan (GCAP) to identify, prioritise and develop tailor-made solutions to their environmental and urban challenges. The GCAP will build on Timisoara’s pre-existing key objective to improve its public transport infrastructure and services, which is a pre-requisite for business and economic development in the region. This is in line with the EU’s Regional Operational Programme for Romania, targeting green and mobility investments. The proceeds of the Bank’s loan will be used to co-finance developing Timisoara’s tram infrastructure, alongside a €53.6 million grant from the EU. The total cost of the development will be €87.2, including national and local contributions and technical cooperation funds. The EBRD loan covers the financing gap for Timisoara’s priority infrastructure programme and will help the city introduce long-term sustainable urban planning, with a focus on green, resilience and mobility. Electric transport systems will not only increase mobility in the region but also improve life and environmental standards by promoting energy efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions and improving public transport quality. The project will save an estimated 22.2 per cent of current emissions, or up to 683 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, per year. Given Timisoara’s commitment to improving transport, the loan will also finance critical consultancies to update the City’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan and to support it in reorganising public transport. The EBRD is a long-term investor in Romania, where to date it has invested nearly €9.4 billion in 481 projects.
President Klaus Iohannis is to hold consultations with the parliamentary parties on nominating a candidate for the prime minister job on Sunday, December 22, the Presidential Administration announced. The president, whose mandate has been extended after the
Step into 2025 with music, excitement, and unforgettable performances! New Year’s Eve at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel is not just a celebration – it’s a grand spectacle where world-class entertainment, live music, and vibrant energy come together for a night to remember. This year, we’ve curated a sensational lineup of artists and performers to […]
The Bucharest Police recently announced that the city will host several commemorative ceremonies marking 35 years since the Romanian Revolution of December 1989, causing traffic restrictions around the city. The restrictions will be in place from Friday to Sunday, December 20-22, 2024. On Friday, December 20, at around 10:00 AM, a religious/military ceremony with wreath-laying […]
Alex Florența, the General Prosecutor of Romania, said on Friday, December 20, that harsher punishments are needed to combat incitement to violence and Legionnaire propaganda (related to Mișcarea Legionară, a Romanian interwar fascist movement) in public spaces effectively. To that end, the office of the General Prosecutor will propose new measures to combat such phenomena. However, […]
Dennis Lloyd, Inna, Damian & Brothers, and Killa Fonic are among the artists who will perform at Flight Festival 2025. The festival is scheduled to take place between June 20 and June 22 at Timișoara’s Banat Village Museum. For three days, the venue “will open its doors for an experience that combines music, nature, and […]
Around 67% of Romanians believe that the economic situation will worsen, 7% higher than the previous year, according to the EY Consumer Index Romania 2024. Findings suggest a challenging start of 2025 both economically and politically in Romania. Additionally, in 2024, more than half of respondents (59%) were extremely concerned about conflicts and external wars. […]
