Eastern Balkans in February 2026: the most important developments in society
In February 2026, winter weather and public protests marked daily life in the eastern Balkans, chiefly Bulgaria and Romania.
Snow and subzero temperatures gripped Bulgaria from early February; schools in Pleven closed on 3 February, and later in the month floods, snow and rockfalls disrupted transport across the country. In Romania a severe blizzard grounded flights on 19 February, and a yellow alert covered 16 counties and Bucharest the following weekend.
In Romania, thousands of teachers protested on 6 February against planned government austerity measures, and education unions resumed protests in front of the Presidency on 24 February. Unions at the country's largest refinery were in a labour conflict over higher wages. In Bulgaria, a protest in Sofia on 26 February demanded the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov. In Sofia, a plan to overhaul buffer parking, with an 800% price hike, met opposition, and a Bulgarian town pushed back against government plans for a refugee centre.
Authorities in Bulgaria were urged to prevent a commemorative march in Sofia; the Lukov March took place on 15 February after a court overturned the city's ban. Bulgaria declared its flu epidemic over, while measles cases rose in Romania as vaccination coverage fell. Romania said it may help evacuate and treat sick children from Gaza.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.