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 Bucharest office market has shown early signs of recovery, driven by a visible increase in pre-lease transactions, highlighting a renewed occupier appetite for future office spaces. The current development pipeline, exceeding 215,600 sq.m, the highest level in recent years, is expected to be gradually absorbed, according to data from the Cushman & Wakefield Echinox […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has officially launched its Risk Sharing Facility in Romania extending EUR 270 million in “green financing” to Romanian banks under the InvestEU program. Through its InvestEU guarantees, the EBRD expects to mobilize new green financing for individuals and companies in Romania, ensuring much-needed energy savings and carbon […]
The Haferland Week Festival will take place this year in Romania between August 6 and 9, celebrating local Saxon culture with a series of events themed “Longing for Transylvania.” The event will take place in 10 localities: Archita, Saschiz, Homorod, Rupea, Criț, Roadeș, Meșendorf, Cloașterf, Bunești, and Viscri. According to the organizers, the theme is […]
EUROPAfest will return to Bucharest between July 3 and July 12, bringing artists from 14 countries to the Romanian capital for the festival’s 33rd edition. The organizers said this year’s event will place a stronger focus on jazz while also continuing to feature blues, pop, and classical music performances. Artists from France, Italy, Ireland, Canada, […]
CPI Property Group has secured EUR 100 million in financing for Sun Plaza, one of the largest shopping centers in Bucharest. The funds were arranged through a club-deal involving OTP Bank and ING Bank Romania. The company said the transaction was signed through its subsidiary CPI Europe AG and also marks the beginning of a […]
Aquila (BVB: AQ), a major player in the Romanian market for integrated distribution and logistics services for fast-moving consumer goods, or FMCG, has inaugurated its new logistics center in Bacău, a strategic project in which the company invested over EUR 1.2 million. The new logistics infrastructure integrated the relocated operations into a modern facility with […]
