Bucharest, February 19, 2026 – TechAngels, the largest and most experienced angel investor network in Romania, together with Romanian Business Leaders (RBL), the community bringing together over 600 business leaders in Romania, and ROPEA (the Romanian Private Equity Association), support Romania’s participation in the first wave of the accelerated deepening of the Capital Markets Union (CMU) and consider this stage of European financial integration to represent a major strategic opportunity for the Romanian economy.
At the European level, the deepening of the Capital Markets Union aims to further integrate financial markets across Member States, reduce national fragmentation and facilitate the free flow of capital across borders. The objective is to mobilize European private savings toward productive investments, particularly in innovation, digitalization, green transition and strategic infrastructure, in order to strengthen the European Union’s competitiveness in a dynamic global environment.
The President of the European Commission recently announced measures to accelerate this process, including the possibility that a group of Member States may move forward more rapidly in implementing common measures. The “first wave” refers to those countries that choose to participate actively and at an early stage in this phase of integration, contributing to the design of new mechanisms and benefiting from faster integration into European capital flows.
Romania has a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and an active investment community. We believe that a clear and coordinated public positioning regarding Romania’s participation in this accelerated stage of the Capital Markets Union is both timely and necessary, along with strengthened dialogue between authorities and the investment community.
“The Capital Markets Union is a real opportunity for Romanian companies that aim to scale across Europe. If a group of Member States chooses to move faster, Romania should be part of that core. Participation in the first wave means not only access to capital, but also the opportunity to help shape the rules of the game,” emphasized Marius Istrate, Chairman of the TechAngels Board.
For Romania, participation in this first wave would mean:
• faster access to financial instruments and cross-border investment mechanisms;
• deeper integration into the European capital ecosystem;
• increased attractiveness for institutional investors and international funds;
• strengthening Romania’s position as a destination for growth capital and innovation.
“Modernising the Romanian economy depends on how quickly we integrate into European financial flows. By joining this first wave of the Capital Markets Union, Romania chooses to be part of the EU’s decision-making core. It is a strategic step toward ensuring a competitive, transparent business environment directly connected to the continent’s capital resources,” stated Sergiu Neguț, President of Romanian Business Leaders.
From the perspective of early-stage investors, the impact is direct: Romanian startups can benefit from broader access to European capital, expanded co-investment networks and stronger financing and exit opportunities.
TechAngels, Romanian Business Leaders and ROPEA express their readiness to contribute practical expertise to help define a strategic position that maximizes the benefits of this initiative for the Romanian economy.
The Capital Markets Union is an instrument for growth, competitiveness and economic convergence. We see Romania as part of the core group of states that choose to participate actively in this new stage of European financial integration.
About TechAngels
TechAngels is the most experienced community of private investors supporting the development of technology startups in Romania and the region. The network includes over 130 members — entrepreneurs and C-level professionals — who invest capital, expertise and time. The aggregated portfolio of TechAngels members includes more than 270 startups, and investments made over the past 12 years exceed €46 million. www.techangels.ro
About Romanian Business Leaders
The Romanian Business Leaders Foundation is a non-partisan organization of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs that develops projects with social impact and advocates for a society based on liberal democracy, fully integrated and aligned with its European family. RBL is the voice and action platform of leaders from the private and associative sectors committed to building a Romania where future generations love to live. Its mission is for Romania to become a better country by protecting the free market for responsible businesses — and, in doing so, for all Romanians. RBL also supports Romania’s contribution to the economic performance of the European Union. The Foundation’s projects focus on three key areas: entrepreneurship, education and good governance. These are initiated and developed on a voluntary basis by the more than 600 members of the RBL community in Bucharest and its eight local chapters. More at www.rbls.ro.
About ROPEA
ROPEA – the Romanian Private Equity Association – is the representative organization of Romania’s private equity and venture capital industry. The Association promotes the sector as a driver of economic development and supports the creation of a favourable legal framework to attract capital and increase private investment. ROPEA acts as a platform for dialogue between investors, entrepreneurs and public authorities, and promotes industry best practices. ROPEA currently brings together 74 members, including 27 private equity and venture capital funds active in the Romanian market. More at https://ropea.ro/