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 gross income of employees who worked full-time under a labour contract and were paid for the entire month of October 2024 was RON 8,374, more than a quarter above the basic gross salary of RON 6,553, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) published on Friday.Around 40% of these employees earned […]
Over 31,600 building permits for residential properties were issued in the first ten months of this year, up 4.1% compared with the same period last year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) published on Friday.Increases were recorded in all development regions: West (+297 permits), Centre (+235), North-West (+192), North-East (+134), South-East […]
VAT revenues increased in the third quarter of this year by 6.74 billion lei compared to the same period last year, totaling 35.48 billion RON, out of a total of 94.75 billion RON for the first nine months of 2025, according to data transmitted on Monday by the Ministry of Finance.Of the amount of 6.74 […]
Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) listed on Friday a new bond issue on the Regulated Market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), worth 1.12 billion RON, the BVB said in a release.This is the 11th bond issue listed by BCR on the Stock Exchange to date, bringing the total value of BCR's listed bonds close to […]
Romania's insurance sector is strengthening its performance against the backdrop of a dynamic market undergoing significant structural transformation, according to a new study on developments in the insurance markets of Central and Eastern Europe, conducted by a consultancy firm in partnership with a research provider."Romania stands out as one of the most dynamic insurance […]
The minimum turnover tax is a barrier to investment, and in a period when the private sector is undergoing restructuring and layoffs, it adds additional pressure on companies, according to a letter signed by 14 investor organizations that once again request the elimination of the minimum tax."In view of the discussions on the construction […]
