Romania: Protests and petitions target funding cuts and urban development

In Bucharest, a petition signed by over 10,000 people seeks to prevent funding cuts for free extracurricular activities in children's clubs and palaces. Proponents warn that starting September 1, 2026, a reduction in funding for hourly-paid positions could affect over 2,500 children across the six sectors of the capital. These institutions provide essential access to music, sports, robotics, and arts for students who may not have the means for private lessons.

Meanwhile, in Brașov, more than 1,000 residents participated in a protest at Nicolae Titulescu Park to oppose a project for a 440-space underground parking lot. Organized by the civic group ‘SCUT pentru spații verzi’, demonstrators are demanding the revocation of local council decisions regarding the land concession. The group is calling for the preservation of green spaces and the publication of alternative urban mobility plans.