Romania advances flood‑protection funding and revises mining legislation

On 17 June 2026 the Romanian Parliament received a draft law called the “water mechanism,” presented by interim Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu. The proposal allocates about 2.5 billion lei over 15 years to modernise flood‑defence infrastructure such as dams, dikes and spillways, as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. It also adjusts water‑use charges for industrial users while keeping household water prices unchanged, and seeks to secure EU funds that could otherwise be lost.

A day earlier, President Nicușor Dan sent the Parliament a request to re‑examine the law approving Emergency Ordinance 77/2024, which amends the Mining Law. The amendment would reopen non‑energy mining operations, allow insolvent companies to continue activities, and introduce differentiated royalties for mineral water used for commercial versus therapeutic purposes. The president’s request highlights concerns about constitutional compliance and calls for further parliamentary scrutiny.