EBRD loan of up to €20.5 million to help Iasi upgrade 15 buildings and bus and tram depot Project expected to result in energy savings of around 34 per cent Financing is part of EBRD Green Cities, Bank’s flagship urban sustainability programme One of Romania’s largest cities, Iasi, will improve the energy efficiency of public buildings thanks to a €20.5 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In Iasi, the energy consumption of public and commercial buildings, and the emissions from buses, trucks and other vehicles together account for around 67 per cent of the city’s annual emissions of nitrogen oxides, which are responsible for air pollution. The project presents significant potential for energy savings. The EBRD loan will finance the energy efficiency upgrading of 15 public buildings and the reconstruction of a bus and tram depot, designed and equipped for a new urban transport fleet that currently includes 32 trams and 44 electric buses. The depot infrastructure will support low-carbon transport in the city and enable the operation and maintenance of the current and future urban transport fleets. The renovation of buildings and the integration of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy measures in the upgraded depot will lead to energy savings of approximately 34 per cent. The project is part of Iasi’s commitment to improving the environment under the EBRD’s flagship urban sustainability programme, EBRD Green Cities. The programme, which Iasi joined last summer, was created to offer cities tangible support to improve the quality of life of their residents. This is the 54th project under EBRD Green Cities and serves as Iasi’s trigger project to formally initiate the city’s participation in the programme. In tandem with the project, Iasi will develop a Green City Action Plan (GCAP) that will prioritise local environmental challenges and identify further investment and policy actions to promote the city’s sustainable development. The GCAP for Iasi will be funded by the TaiwanBusiness-EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund. Iasi is one of three Romanian cities that are part of EBRD Green Cities, alongside Craiova and Medias. To date, the EBRD has signed €9.3 billion in more than 470 projects in Romania.
Cambridge School of Bucharest (CSB) has been shortlisted for the Student Mental Health Initiative of the Year category in the Tes Awards for International Schools 2025, becoming the only school in Romania to appear on this year’s shortlist. The nomination recognises CSB’s pioneering, student-led approach to promoting well-being across the Secondary School and reflects the […]
The Romanian Film Festival UK (RFF25UK) begins this week with a program showcasing a selection of new and archive Romanian feature films, documentaries, and shorts. The festival will open with the UK premiere of Traffic, Romania's 2026 Academy Awards entry. The film is directed by Teodora Ana Mihai from a screenplay by Palme d'Or–winning filmmaker […]
The government is preparing a major overhaul of state-owned companies, deputy prime minister Oana Gheorghiu announced on Monday, November 24, unveiling plans for a unified registry and initial reforms targeting 10 key enterprises. According to her, Romania currently has 1,502 state-owned companies, including 230 at central level and 1,272 under local authorities. Among central entities, […]
Two Romanians reportedly forced open an emergency exit and ran after the plane that was preparing to take off for Bucharest from Cologne, southwestern Germany, on Friday, November 21. The two, aged 28 and 47, were late for boarding, at which point they broke an emergency window and activated a button to open a secured […]
NOËL, the longest-running designer gift fair in Romania, will hold its 16th edition on December 13–14 at Unirea Shopping Center in Bucharest. The event will feature more than 100 designers presenting handmade and curated gifts, including unique pieces, capsule collections, and seasonal items. The fair will host creators from Romania as well as artists from […]
Romania will celebrate its National Day on December 1 with a large military parade in Bucharest featuring Romanian and allied troops. The event will also showcase an extensive display of military equipment and aircraft at the Arch of Triumph. More than 2,900 servicemembers and specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, Interior Ministry, Romanian Intelligence […]
