June 30, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 30.06.2025, 19:58
Defence. Tax evasion, the situation at the Praid salt mine and the war in Ukraine were some of the subjects discussed by the Country’s Supreme Defence Council chaired by president Nicuşor Dan. The Council established that tax evasion was a major vulnerability and agreed on the need to intensify checks, step up the digitalisation of the tax system and use all available legal means to recover the damages incurred by the state. A coordinated and firm approach from all relevant institutions is also needed in order to identify and eliminate the tax evasion and fraud networks. The Council also discussed the future of the Praid Salt Mine, which was flooded last month, considering the possibility to restore the old mine and create a new mine for visitors and for production. Talks also looked at the latest developments in the military conflict in Ukraine, with Romania reiterating its wish for the war to end with a fair and durable peace that would establish solid guarantees discouraging a new act of aggression from Russia and would contribute to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, including the Black Sea region, the president’s office said in a statement. Talks also focused on Romania’s contribution to the peace negotiations. The Council analysed and approved the Romanian armed forces who will be made available for participation in international missions and operations in 2026. The meeting also discussed other topical national security issues, the statement says. Monday’s meeting was the first to be called by president Nicuşor Dan and attended by members of Ilie Bolojan’s cabinet. The previous meeting was held on 30th April.
Deficit. The Romanian government on Monday adopted an emergency order providing for cuts in the bonuses granted to public employees. This is part of a package of measures to reduce the budget deficit. According to the emergency order, the amount of bonuses for hazardous or harmful working conditions was established at 300 lei per month for all staff paid through public funds. Also, public employees performing difficult, hazardous and harmful jobs will have the right to take 3-5 days of leave per year in addition to their usual holiday. Employers’ associations have given the green light to the bill, but trade unions are against it, while civil society have made a number of observations. Trade unions from all areas met on Monday to discuss a joint action plan and threatened an all-out national strike. They accused the authorities of not consulting them about measures likely to diminish employees’ earnings. Some trade unions have staged protests across the country since Friday, while ALFA trade union association said they would hold a big rally outside Parliament around mid July.
Parliament. The Chamber of Deputies on Monday passed a bill enabling the government to issue executive orders while Parliament is in recess. Between 1st July and 1st September, the government will be able to issue simple emergency orders to approve the Green Energy national investment programme and measures to cut public spending. Moreover, deputies also decided that the government will be able to issue legislation regarding the merger, dismantling or reorganisation of the institutions subordinated to it, the management of the European funds allocated to Romania under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, including the necessary regulations to meet the milestones and targets that form part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as in the field of culture and with regard to guaranteeing, crediting and managing external non-reimbursable funds corresponding to the Common Agricultural Policy. The bill was also passed by the Senate.
Festival. The 2025 edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival ended on Sunday. Around 5,000 participants from more than 80 countries took part in almost 850 events over 10 days. On the last day of the festival, a concert by Damian Drăghici was scheduled in the Main Square, followed by a multimedia show with drones, lights and music in the Theatre Square. This year, 7 new stars were added to the Walk of Fame, with the personalities who received this distinction including the famous American actors Kathleen Turner and Bill Murray, as well as the Romanian-French playwright Eugen Ionescu, a master of the theatre of the absurd.
