Business #28 Legislative focus

The law declaring a state of crisis on Romania’s oil and fuel market until 31 October 2026 was finally published in the Official Gazette and entered into force on Friday, August 7. The new rules introduce temporary measures for fuel producers, refiners, importers and distributors, including limits on fuel mark-ups, a variable reduction in diesel excise duty, prior approval for certain fuel exports, additional reporting obligations and a revised solidarity contribution for crude oil producers. The Government may extend the crisis period if market conditions worsen.

Fuel producers, importers, refiners, distributors and retailers now need to adjust their pricing policies, reporting processes and export operations to comply with the new rules. Transport and logistics companies will benefit from the temporary reduction in diesel excise duty, while oil producers will incur additional costs due to the solidarity contribution.

On Friday, 7 August, the Government approved Romania’s Electricity Risk Preparedness Plan, which establishes how major disruptions to electricity supply should be managed, including through measures that can affect industrial and other large electricity consumers. The plan covers several extreme scenarios and provides for measures ranging from emergency support and reduced exports to phased restrictions on electricity consumption. This comes after recent changes to the National Power System and the Government’s announcement regarding the possible limitation of industrial consumption. The decision was already published in the Official Gazette.

Energy-intensive companies and other large electricity consumers subject to phased restrictions must receive at least 24 hours’ notice, and consumption must remain at the minimum level needed for the safe operation of their installations. Residential consumers are excluded from the applicable consumption-limitation measures.

In order to implement the aforementioned Plan and take action, the Government has also adopted another decision authorizing Transelectrica to apply, until 31 August 2026, a series of gradual measures. These are aimed at maintaining the stability of Romania’s electricity system if a crisis situation occurs. The measures range from increasing available reserves and activating backup generation capacity to reducing electricity exports and, as a last resort, temporarily limiting consumption by certain electricity users. The decision was already published in the Official Gazette.

Electricity consumers covered by the applicable restrictions may have to temporarily reduce their consumption and adjust operations. Market participants must receive at least 24 hours’ notice before the measures are applied. The specific consumers and conditions for phased consumption limits are set out in a confidential annex communicated only to the relevant parties. Transelectrica decides when measures are necessary, in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and ANRE.

The Government has approved the use of WorkinRomania.gov.ro as the main digital platform for employers and agencies recruiting foreign workers, moving registration, authorisation, applications and communication with the relevant authorities online. The platform will also connect to public databases to verify company, employment, immigration and qualification information. This decision was also published in the Official Gazette.

Companies hiring foreign workers and placement agencies will need to manage these procedures electronically, including through qualified electronic signatures where documents cannot be verified automatically. Employers will be responsible for the information submitted by authorised employees or representatives and must keep their delegations and internal data-protection procedures up to date. Offers for occupations not included on the List of Occupations in Shortage will be automatically rejected.