Romania's Senate adopts housing VAT deadline and fuel price cap, aiming to secure over 3 billion euros

Extraordinary session pushes through long-stalled reforms

On 27 July 2026, the Romanian Senate convened in an extraordinary session to adopt several legislative projects that had been delayed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Senate President Mircea Abrudean, a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL), announced the passage on social media, stressing that the package addresses urgent problems affecting the population and the economy.

“The Senate adopted today, in an extraordinary session, several important legislative projects for Romania and for meeting the commitments assumed through the PNRR.”

Housing sector gets ANCPI fix and VAT deadline

One of the adopted measures resolves the administrative blockage at the National Agency for Cadastre and Real Estate Publicity (ANCPI). Homebuyers who had signed contracts under the existing legislation will not bear the consequences of an administrative delay that is not their fault. The agreed deadline of 30 September will allow the reduced VAT rate to apply for qualifying homes.

“We adopted the legislative solution for the situation created at ANCPI, so that people who signed contracts and made plans based on the law in force do not bear the consequences of an administrative blockage that is not their fault. The agreed deadline, September 30, will allow the application of the reduced VAT rate for homes that meet the legal conditions.”

Fuel price mechanism aims to cushion households and transporters

A second law introduces a mechanism to protect the population and the economy from rising fuel prices. Commercial markups are capped, and the diesel excise can be reduced gradually when market indicators justify it. The mechanism is dynamic and deactivates automatically once crisis conditions end.

“The law establishes a mechanism by which commercial markups are limited, and the diesel excise can be reduced gradually, depending on price developments, when market indicators justify it. The mechanism is dynamic and deactivates automatically when crisis conditions are no longer met.”

Fiscal administration and administrative code reforms

Senators also approved projects that raise performance standards in the fiscal and customs administration, together with amendments to the Administrative Code. These are part of the overdue PNRR reform package, which the government considers essential to unlock European funding.

Billions of euros at stake

All the adopted measures are linked to milestones that Romania must meet under the PNRR. According to Abrudean, the legislative package will help save over 3 billion euros that could otherwise be lost. The vote on 27 July clears several hurdles at once, accelerating a backlog of reforms that had threatened the disbursement of EU recovery funds.

“These are projects that are part of the overdue PNRR laws that will help us save over 3 billion euros.”