The European Commission warned Romania on Wednesday to remove its cap on gas prices or potentially face legal action over the policy, which the EU executive branch said violates the bloc's energy market rules. Gas and power bills for Romanian households, small businesses and public institutions have been capped up to certain monthly consumption levels since November 2021, with suppliers compensated for the difference. In a notice published on Wednesday, the European Commission said the policy violates EU rules on the free formation of wholesale gas prices, since Romania's measure obliges firms to sell part of their production at a fixed wholesale price. "Regulated prices at the level of the EU-wide wholesale market distort price signals and effective market functioning," the Commission said. European wholesale gas prices began climbing in 2021 after Russia limited deliveries. Prices soared to record highs the following year when Moscow further slashed supplies after its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Romania's government has two months to respond to the EU warning, after which the Commission can refer the case to the EU's top court, if the matter is unresolved. Ahead of its May 18 presidential election run-off, Romania currently has an interim government which cannot issue decrees or introduce policies. Former Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned on Monday after hard-right eurosceptic George Simion won the first round of the presidential election re-run. The president elected this month will appoint a new prime minister. In February, the former government extended the gas price cap for a year, and prolonged the power price limits until June, to rein in consumers' bills. Romania produces almost all the gas it consumes domestically, through producers OMV Petrom, state-owned Romgaz and offshore producer Black Sea Oil & Gas.
The European Commission has approved a payment of EUR 1.27 billion to Romania as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funding worth some EUR 28 billion in total. The rest of the scheduled payment, totaling EUR 870 million, was suspended. Romania’s European funds minister, Marcel Boloș, announced that three objectives included in […]
The tech startups YellowGrid, WiseWatts and Procesio won CleanTech Corporate Hackathon 2025, the first event dedicated to innovators, startups and scaleups creating AI-based technologies and solutions for sustainable energy in South East Europe. YellowGrid, the team that won first place and the EUR 5,000 prize, is composed of Cătălin Stăncel, Sergiu Mureșan, Andrei Antohie and […]
Romanians' trust in the EU is well above the European average, but they occasionally show different priorities compared to those of most Europeans, according to the most recent Eurobarometer survey. The measurement, conducted in the winter and spring of 2025, shows an overall increase in European citizens’ trust in the EU, especially in the areas […]
Romania has dropped four positions in the global Startup Ecosystem 2025 report by StartupBlink. It is now ranked 48th worldwide, and has lost ground in Eastern Europe, where it dropped from 8th to 9th place, after Ukraine advanced one position and Greece two positions, surpassing Romania globally. However, Romania is now 16th in the global AI top […]
The Nufărul geothermal station in Oradea, developed through a European project worth EUR 25 million, was officially inaugurated on Thursday, May 29. The station is the first of its kind in Romania, and builders had to drill approximately 2,800 meters for water. “All extracted water comes to the geothermal station on Iancu de Hunedoara Street, […]
CTP, a leading developer, owner, and operator of industrial and logistics properties, has extended its collaboration with HelpShip, a major e-fulfillment and logistics provider within the euShipments.com group, increasing HelpShip’s leased space to 20,000 sqm at CTPark Oradea Cargo Terminal. The expanded facility will serve as the company’s main fulfilment center. With HelpShip’s growth from […]
