The government approved 1.5 billion lei for the 'Healthy Plate' Program, which will provide hot meals or food packages for 540,000 children by 2026.

The Romanian government approved on Friday the allocation of 1.531 billion lei for the funding of the national program 'Healthy Meal' in 2026, aimed at preschoolers and students from 1,427 educational institutions. The program will provide daily, free, a hot meal or a food package for over 540,000 children, with the goal of reducing school dropout and social exclusion.

The funding comes from the state budget, through amounts allocated from the value-added tax, and local authorities will adjust their budgets for the implementation of the program. Each beneficiary will receive 16.5 lei per day, including VAT, during the course of the classes. The measure aims to ensure non-discriminatory access to education and support vulnerable groups, considering the economic difficulties of many families. The program will be gradually expanded, aiming to be generalized for all students in pre-university education by 2029-2030.