Antena 1, March 24, 2026
Summary
Here is a detailed summary of the report from March 24, 2026, organized by key points of interest:
Bureaucratic gridlock in Romania
The emergency ordinance intended to reduce fuel prices by at least 50 bani was suspended due to the lack of necessary approvals. Although the government wanted rapid adoption, the Economic and Social Council (ESC) could not issue the mandatory approval because signatures from the Ministry of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacșu were missing.
ESC President Sterică Fudulea criticized the executive branch’s delay, noting that while other countries acted immediately, the Romanian bill remains incomplete and unclear after three weeks of crisis.
Proposed measures and the impact of price hikes
In its current form, the bill provides for:
- Limiting the markup to 50% of the average price from the previous year for market operators.
- Mandatory approval of exports by the Ministry of Energy.
- The possibility of rationing fuel in the event of a state of emergency being declared (Romania has secured fuel stocks only until the end of June).
The financial impact on the population is severe: in a single month, gasoline prices rose by 17% (an additional 66 lei per full tank), and diesel by 21% (an additional 88 lei per full tank), reaching 10.21 lei/liter in Bucharest.
The international context and the regional market
Experts warn that, due to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of production capacities in the Gulf region, prices will not drop immediately, even if the geopolitical situation were to be resolved.
Comparison with Bulgaria:
- Romanians in the south are crossing the border to fill up, saving approximately 95 lei on a 50-liter tank.
- Although prices have also risen in Bulgaria (1.44 euros for gasoline / 1.62 euros for diesel), they remain lower than in Romania due to lower excise taxes.
The Bulgarian Government’s Strategy
Unlike Romania, authorities in Sofia have an intervention plan based on clear thresholds:
- State aid: Discussions are underway regarding the provision of 20 euros per month in support for vulnerable groups.
- Monitoring: Emergency measures are activated if diesel exceeds 1.60 euros for three consecutive days.
- Infrastructure: A postponement of the highway toll increase planned for April is being considered.
Report
Anchor:
The ordinance that was supposed to lower fuel prices by at least 50 bani has gotten bogged down in bureaucracy. The government isn’t rushing to take action, so people are paying the price.
Romanian driver:
I’m not doing math anymore… I think it’ll go up to 12–13 lei per liter (2–2.20 euros per liter). I mean, I don’t think it’ll stop there.
Anchor:
Basically, today, the Economic and Social Council—which represents the interests of labor unions and employers before the government—did not issue the mandatory approval for the bill to pass.
The institutions are blaming the ministries.
Sterica Fudulea, President of the Economic and Social Council:
It wasn’t the ESC that canceled the government meeting. It wasn’t the ESC that blocked the ordinance.
We didn’t have the approvals from the Ministry of Justice and from Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacșu.
Anchor:
In the form presented by the government, the crisis measures require fuel market operators to limit their markup to 50% of the average over the past year. Additionally, any export would have had to be approved by the Ministry of Energy.
Sterica Fudulea, President of the Economic and Social Council:
It has been three weeks since this crisis began. Some countries intervened immediately, and now we see that this ordinance must be approved within 24 hours, yet as it stands, it does not meet the needs.
Anchor:
The Economic and Social Council will meet again tomorrow to review the ordinance, but its opinion remains uncertain. If the government introduces new amendments, the document will re-enter the bureaucratic process.
Meanwhile, prices at the pump are rising. Compared to last month, gasoline is 17% more expensive, which means an extra 66 lei for a full tank. And diesel has gone up by 21%, meaning 88 lei more for a full tank.
Reporter:
Don’t you fill up to keep some in reserve?
Romanian driver:
We fill up a lot. I run a road construction company. 20,000 lei doesn’t even last me two days anymore. They need to stop this, because if they don’t, we’ll stop too.
Expert:
The authorities could find ways to encourage reduced consumption where it isn’t strictly necessary. And even if we had an immediate resolution to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz tomorrow, we wouldn’t see an instant drop in prices. That’s because there’s a lot of production and export capacity that’s been affected in the Gulf.
Anchor:
If a state of emergency is declared, the government may decide to ration fuel.
Eugenia Gușilov, energy expert:
Romania has four months’ worth of reserves. Four months means the end of June.
Anchor:
For Romanians in the south of the country, it has become cost-effective to fill up in Bulgaria.
Mădălina Chițac, reporter:
10 lei and 21 bani — that’s how much standard diesel is now selling for at several gas stations in the capital.
Cristian Popovici, reporter:
In Bulgaria, at the pump, standard gasoline has reached 1.44 euros per liter, the equivalent of 7.34 lei at the NBR exchange rate. And diesel has risen to 1.62 euros, equivalent to 8.26 lei. Even so, with these price hikes, a Romanian who fills up across the border pays about 95 lei less for 50 liters of fuel, the difference being mainly due to lower excise taxes here in Bulgaria.
Anchor:
The Bulgarian government is waiting for the price of diesel to exceed the 1.60 euro threshold for three consecutive days before taking action.
Vladimir Mitev, Bulgarian journalist:
Support will be provided in the form of a 20-euro monthly state subsidy for vulnerable groups who use fuel.
Bulgarian driver 1:
We’re quite seriously concerned about prices because they’re rising. A full tank costs us 15 euros more.
Bulgarian driver 2:
We have to switch to gasoline or electric.
Anchor:
Another measure being considered in Bulgaria is postponing the increase in highway tolls, which was scheduled for April.
Photo: (source: YouTube, Antena 1)
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