Government Formation Talks: President Nicușor Dan will meet parliamentary parties again on September 1 to pick the next prime minister, saying Romania needs a stable majority and that a technocratic cabinet is off the table; sources suggest an independent PM could lead a Social-Democratic majority backed in Parliament by the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians. EU Funds Deadline Push: Romania is racing to finalize National Recovery and Resilience Plan projects on the last day, with a new 47-km A7 motorway segment Bucharest–Bacău due August 31 and linked to a €1.5bn non-repayable tranche. Energy & Tax Policy: Romania cut diesel excise taxes again—another 25% from September 1 after a 20% cut on August 13—aiming to keep pump prices under 10 lei/liter. Regional Security & Hybrid Pressure: Reporting says Russia is stepping up “gray zone” actions across Europe, including drone incursions and cyberattacks; Romania is also mentioned in recent drone and malware-related incidents. Black Sea Risk to Trade: Markets are watching Black Sea escalation as shipping and grain exports face renewed pressure, with wheat futures hitting a three-year high. Romania in the Spotlight: Romania’s SAFE defense pre-financing is moving forward, with the country receiving its first €2.5bn payment under the mechanism.