The Young Entrepreneurs' Association from Romania (PTIR) is calling for the urgent adoption of a comprehensive package of measures to revive the economy and restore predictability and confidence in the business environment, following Romania's entry into a technical recession.
According to a press release of the association, official data from the National Institute of Statistics confirm that Romania has entered a technical recession after two consecutive quarters of GDP decline.
"The negative performance in the fourth quarter of 2025 marks a pronounced slowdown of the economy and confirms the warnings issued in recent months by the entrepreneurial sector. For small and medium-sized enterprises, this development is not merely a macroeconomic indicator but an economic reality felt directly (80% of companies report being affected): fewer orders, declining consumption, postponed investments, rising operating costs and increased caution in development decisions," reads the press release.
Among the measures requested are ensuring fiscal stability and avoiding sudden legislative changes; accelerating public investment and the absorption of European funds; reducing the administrative burden and fast-tracking the digitalisation of relations between the state and entrepreneurs.
PTIR also considers it necessary to introduce dedicated instruments and programmes to support SMEs and start-ups, such as accelerating the implementation of the StartUp Nation programme; launching Student First Company and Start-Up Revolution - 500 start-ups financed per county with a defined pre-allocation for each county - as well as IMM Invest, offering guarantees of up to 90% of the value of loans for investment and working capital.
The association further proposes launching a Scale-Up programme to support SMEs with at least 10 years of activity in increasing industrial output, through regionally predefined projects by sector and type of investment, as well as the introduction of IMM Digital - vouchers for the purchase of digitalisation packages for micro-enterprises (subsidised software access, website and social media expenses, online marketing training, e-commerce, digital mentors and electronic signatures).
"Entry into a technical recession is a signal that cannot be ignored. Annual growth of 0.6% does not offset the sharp contraction in the final quarter. SMEs need stability, clear measures and a genuine economic recovery plan. Without substantial intervention, we risk a prolonged period of stagnation that will affect investment, employment and the competitiveness of Romanian capital," said Daniel Uritu, president of PTIR, as quoted in the release.
The Young Entrepreneurs' Association from Romania said it remains an active partner in dialogue and expertise for the development of public policies aimed at supporting the entrepreneurial environment and contributing to economic stability and dynamism.
Romania's economy grew by 0.6% in 2025, but GDP was 1.9% lower in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter of 2025, according to flash estimates published on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics. This marks the second consecutive quarterly contraction, signalling the country's entry into a technical recession.
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