Romania signals tax relief ahead as deficit challenge remains
Romania's government ordinance passted at the end of last year signals to companies that fiscal pressure could ease and the series of tax increases might end in 2026.
Romania's government ordinance passted at the end of last year signals to companies that fiscal pressure could ease and the series of tax increases might end in 2026.
Romania's consolidated general budget recorded a deficit of RON 121.77 billion (€23.90 billion), equivalent to 6.40% of GDP, in the first eleven months of 2025, down 0.74 percentage points from 7.15% in the same period of 2024.
Romania's consolidated general budget recorded a deficit of €21.8 billion (RON 108.87 billion) in the first ten months of 2025, representing 5.72% of GDP. This marks a decrease of €110 million compared to the same period in 2024, when the deficit stood at 6.22% of GDP.
Romania's real GDP growth is forecast to remain low over the next two years, primarily due to the necessary fiscal consolidation measures that will slow consumption.
Romania recorded the largest general government deficit in the EU during the second quarter of 2025, reaching -8.7% of GDP.
Romania's consolidated budget deficit has widened to 4.54% of GDP after the first eight months of 2025, an increase from the 4.04% reported in July 2025.
The Romanian government has set a budget deficit target of 8.4% of GDP for this year, as agreed with representatives from the EC, according to PM Ilie Bolojan.
Romania's consolidated general budget execution closed the first seven months of 2025 with a nominal deficit of RON 76.44 billion (€15.34 billion), an increase of RON 5.4 billion.
Romania's inflation rate, already among the highest in CEE at 5.8% as of June 2025, is projected to rise sharply, could potentially reach close to 9% in the coming months.
Romania's budget deficit stood at 3.39% of GDP after the first five months of 2025, a slight decrease compared to 3.41% of GDP in the similar period last year.
Romania finds itself under scrutiny regarding its fiscal position and ongoing macroeconomic imbalances in the European Commission's 2025 European Semester Spring Package.
Romania recorded the highest government deficit among EU member states in 2024, standing at -9.3% of GDP.

The National Institute of Statistics (INS) has revised the economic performance for the first nine months of 2025.
Retail trade volume in Romania remained flat in November 2025 compared to the previous month, according to the latest data released by Eurostat.
Romania's Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan announced that discussions with operators about removing gas price caps began in September to prepare multiple scenarios and prevent sudden price increases after March 31 2026.
Erste Group has completed its acquisition of a 49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska and a 50% stake in Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych from Banco Santander for approximately €7 billion.
Romania's residential market is showing a significant acceleration in price growth compared to the European average, based on the Eurostat data for Q3 2025.