Stories from Romania

The Brașov local council will replace current variable parking rates with a single annual fee of 350 lei starting in 2027. Current resident parking rates in the city vary between 120 and 156 lei depending on the neighborhood.

The Directorate of Public Health has withdrawn the sanitary operating authorization for the William Shakespeare Theoretical High School. Authorities applied a fine of 40,000 lei following the discovery. Officials stated these deficiencies pose a major health risk to students. The institution is considered an elite high school. Authorities are currently working to remedy the situation so that activities can resume safely. The Romanian government will allocate 3 million lei to support infrastructure, education, and health projects. According to a Facebook post by Nazar, 1 million lei will be provided as interest-free loans from the central bank to accelerate payments within the PNRR. The remaining 2 million lei are designated for completing old European projects at risk of stalling.

Low-cost airlines including Ryanair, Transavia, and Volotea are already reducing the number of flights to manage rising kerosene prices. Experts warn that these increased costs could lead to further route cancellations ahead of the summer season. The price hike is causing concerns regarding potential kerosene supply deficits for operators. An airline is rationalizing services and cutting capacity in response to pricing pressures. The carrier is attempting to maintain capacity by shifting passengers onto other flights. Regional infrastructure funding has been announced to address these issues. Officials are currently working on options to provide relief during the fuel crisis and are evaluating long-term support for vulnerable regional routes.

The Constitutional Court of Romania declared a law unconstitutional in an 8-to-1 vote. Additionally, the PSDR is preparing a draft law that would allow expropriations in favor of private companies, which would be a first for Romania. A bill passed the first reading in the Romanian Parliament that would allow the state to expropriate land in favor of private mining companies. The law marks a first in Romanian history, as the Constitution currently requires expropriations to be for public utility only. Non-governmental organizations have notified the European Commission and are requesting the law be rejected. The PNL party announced it will refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. The Romanian Constitutional Court ruled that parliamentary decisions regarding the appointment of board members for public television and radio are unconstitutional.

The Brașov City Hall has signed a non-reimbursable funding contract worth approximately 578 million lei for the construction of a new hospital specializing in pneumophthisiology and infectious diseases. The project was developed with support from the Ministry of Health.

Olympic champions Simona Radiș and Iancuța Bodnar have reunited in the same rowing boat after nearly two years of sporting separation. The athletes completed five weeks of winter training on a lake between Rome and Naples, coordinated by Dorina Lupa.

Only 7% of those surveyed in Romania reported a danger in consumption, according to a report from Radio Romania Intl. Additionally, only 8% reported a risk regarding solar radiation.

A study indicates that 47% of residents in Bucharest and 32% nationally feel exposed to air pollution. Additionally, 31% of respondents reported exposure to active smoking. Only 18% of those surveyed engage in daily or near-daily physical activity.

A study commissioned by a pharmaceutical company operating in Romania indicates that one in four Romanians cannot afford a healthy lifestyle due to high costs. The study was released during World Immunization Week.

BNR Governor Mugrisărescu stated that recovering 91.5 tons of gold confiscated by Russians in 1916 requires the support of the entire Romanian society.