The European Commission has adopted two decisions Tuesday, issuing a positive preliminary assessment to lift the suspension of payment of €714 million to Portugal, and €37.2 million to Romania (net of pre-financing), after acknowledging the progress made in implementing their respective recovery and resilience plans. This comes after earlier suspensions, where the Commission had found certain milestones and targets had not been satisfactorily fulfilled in Portugal ‘s third and fourth payment request, and Romania's second payment request. €37.2 million following measures promoting the green transition in Romania The Commission had found that two specific milestones in Romania's second payment request had not been satisfactorily fulfilled. This had led to a withheld amount of €53.4 million. After the initial suspension, Romania was encouraged to take action over a 6-month period. The Commission has now found that Romania has taken measures to ensure that part of the outstanding milestones have now been satisfactorily completed. Specifically, in June 2023, milestone 129, related to green hydrogen production capacities, along with milestone 133, concerning investment in less carbon-intensive heat generation facilities, were initially deemed as not satisfactorily met. The suspension mechanism allowed the country to receive a partial payment for the milestones and targets that had been satisfactorily fulfilled, while giving it additional time to meet the remaining outstanding requirements. Making use of the extended timeframe, Romania implemented a series of effective actions, which have accelerated the decarbonisation of its industry. The Commission concluded that milestone 133 is now satisfactorily fulfilled. Accordingly, it now proposes to unlock €17.8 million** corresponding to this milestone. In relation to milestone 129, the Commission notified Romania that it continued to consider the milestone as not entirely satisfactorily fulfilled, while recognising the progress made in its completion. Romania now has two months to send further observations to the Commission, after which the release of the outstanding amount related to milestone 129 may still be decided. Romania's overall recovery plan, amounting to €28.5 billion in grants and loans, encompasses a series of reforms and investments to strengthen its economy. The Commission has disbursed over €9.41 billion to Romania, which corresponds to 33% of all the funds in the Romanian plan*, with 14% of all the milestones and targets in the plan fulfilled.
Only about 44% of employees in Romania say they have used AI in the past year, while the average usage rate in the 48 countries included in the report was 57%, according to the PwC Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2025 report. India and Vietnam are at the top, with 84%, followed by China (78%). […]
A new four-star hotel is set to rise next to Bucharest’s Henri Coandă International Airport, following a EUR 45.5 million investment announced by real estate developer D. GROUP. The Wyndham Garden Bucharest Airport Hotel, scheduled to open in July 2027, will introduce the Wyndham Garden brand to Romania for the first time. Located 150 metres […]
Romania ranks 3rd in a European heatwave vulnerability ranking and will experience 3 heatwave events annually, lasting 17 cumulative days with average temperatures of 36.82°C, placing it ahead of all Mediterranean countries, according to new research from climate system experts at Reinders Corporation. The study analysed climate modelling data, heatwave frequency, and average temperatures across […]
Romania’s former prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, won around 52% of the votes cast for the leadership of the Buzău County Council, a position he previously held. Ciolacu, backed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), was followed by the candidate of the far-right party Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), Ștefan Avrămescu, with 27% of […]
Romanian producers from Timiș and Tulcea claimed three gold medals at the 2025 edition of the Concours International de Lyon, one of Europe’s leading cheese and dairy competitions. Held in Lyon, the event brought together products from 15 countries and awarded a total of 680 medals, including 459 gold and 221 silver. From Romania, Asociația […]
Allianz-Țiriac Asigurări and Campion Grup, owner of one of Romania’s largest insurance brokerage companies, have signed an agreement under which the insurer will acquire the entire shareholding of Campion Broker. Founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Octavian Tatomirescu, Campion Broker currently ranks seventh among insurance brokerage firms in Romania and operates a nationwide distribution network of […]
