Luca Niculescu, a 55-year-old journalist-turned-diplomat, on Tuesday became Romania’s new Prime Minister, heading a Cabinet dominated by Social Democrats (PSD) and supplemented by a handful of technocrats. No less than 12 ministries go to PSD representatives and seven posts to independents, including the Prime Minister himself. See Who’s Who and a snippet of their thinking.Read More →
As every year, we have prepared Grayling’s CEE Outlook report, outlining the key political, economic and regulatory developments businesses should be aware of in the year ahead. In this edition, our Public Affairs teams highlight the policy, regulatory and geopolitical shifts most likely to shape the operating environment in 2026 in Central and Eastern Europe. The region continues to adjust to a shifting geopolitical and economic landscape. Governments across CEE are balancing fiscal consolidation with rising defence spending, while navigating ongoing uncertainty shaped by Russia’s continued war against Ukraine, a more transactional United States, and visible strains within the European Union. Together, these factors point to a period of gradual strategic recalibration. If you would like a more in-depth discussion tailored to specific industries or markets, please do not hesitate…Read More →
The Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration (MDLPA) has released the Second Reform Package — focused on public administration — for public debate. Initially announced on July 21 and slated for adoption by the end of the month, the process was delayed due to disagreements within the ruling coalition. The main points of contention were the proposed cuts to the “Anghel Saligny” local infrastructure program and the potential elimination of up to 20% of jobs in local government. Following the adoption of the First Reform Package (Law 141/2025) on July 4, the Government held multiple rounds of consultations with business leaders and local government representatives. Tensions emerged within the coalition, particularly from PSD, which called for adjustments to the perceived inequities in the First Package’s tax measures and advocated…Read More →
