Romania is moving to establish a national flood infrastructure fund to strengthen its defenses against severe flooding and to meet conditions required for accessing European Union recovery funds. The announcement comes after the country experienced some of the most damaging floods in two decades, with widespread destruction of homes, roads and agricultural land.
Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu stated that the initiative forms a central part of a reform package agreed with the European Commission. Under the agreement, Romania must create a long-term resilience and management mechanism by 2026 in order to retain eligibility for EU recovery financing.
The World Bank estimates that Romania will need between €10 billion and €40 billion over the next five years to restore and reinforce flood protection systems, including river embankments, drainage networks and dams. However, the government acknowledges that the state budget cannot cover the entire requirement.
According to the ministry, priority will be given to high-risk regions and vulnerable communities. Funding is expected to be supported through water management fees and environmental taxation. Although a portion of EU recovery funds has already been forfeited due to delays, the government has committed to covering around 40 percent of the shortfall through national resources.
Minister Buzoianu also highlighted that reforms in water management and forestry will play an important role in preventing future disasters, noting that climate change has intensified both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events in the region.
The government is expected to present a detailed financing and implementation plan in the coming months, as discussions with the European Commission continue.