September 22, 2025
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 22.09.2025, 13:55
Deficit – The Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is discussing today in Brussels with several European commissioners, including the one for the economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, and the one for defense, Andrius Kubilius, about the credits taken by Romania and the budget deficit. Recently, the PM has declared that Romania has a deficit of about 30 billion Euros, and the interests that Bucharest must pay this year amount to 11 billion Euros. In this difficult context, the government had to quickly take measures to reduce expenses, especially since there is a risk of suspension of European funds, if by October 15 the budget deficit is not corrected, as requested by European officials. In Brussels, the Romanian prime minister also has a working meeting with Roxana Mînzatu, the executive vice-president of the European Commission, responsible for social rights and skills, quality jobs and training.
UN – About 140 heads of state and government are expected in New York for the annual UN summit, which marks 80 years since the creation of the United Nations. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will launch the so-called UN Initiative 80, aimed at leading to a systemic reform of the world organization. The summit will also be attended by President Donald Trump, who since returning to the White House has initiated massive cuts to US foreign aid, affecting many struggling UN agencies, while humanitarian needs are growing. A central point of discussion is the future of the Palestinians and Gaza. The Israeli prime minister accused Western leaders who recognize the state of Palestine of “rewarding terrorism.” Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Palestinians would never have a state and announced that Israel would react to coordinated statements from Great Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal, which on Sunday announced the official recognition of a Palestinian state. Today, France and several other European countries are set to make similar announcements at the United Nations. In fact, the state is already recognized by about 150 of the 193 UN member states. Among them are EU member states, including Romania, which, like other ex-communist countries, recognized Palestine before joining the Union. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and says he plans to meet again with President Trump in New York to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
Moldova – It is the last week of the electoral campaign in the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population) before the legislative elections scheduled for September 28 and considered crucial for the future of the country. The vote will decide whether the Republic of Moldova will continue its path towards the EU or turn back to Russia. More than 20 political parties and electoral blocs have entered the race for the Moldovan parliament, and opinion polls give the first chance to the ruling party, the “Action and Solidarity” party – founded by President Maia Sandu, with a pro-European orientation, but without obtaining the majority. In the context of the war in Ukraine, accusations of Russian interference in politics in the Republic of Moldova are becoming more frequent – police and prosecutors reveal almost weekly complicated schemes of illegal financing of some parties and buying votes, as well as money laundering.
Russia – The UN Security Council is meeting today in an extraordinary session, at the request of Estonia, after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The incident, which took place on Friday, lasted about 12 minutes and sparked strong reactions from the authorities in Tallinn and the North Atlantic Alliance. Romania condemns the violation of Estonian airspace by the three Russian fighter jets, the Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu wrote on X, adding that this is an additional reason for adopting a new package of sanctions against Russia. “As a member of the EU and NATO and as a country facing such Russian challenges, Romania stands in full solidarity with Estonia,” Oana Ţoiu wrote. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent a strong message to Moscow after the recent incursions of Russian planes and drones into the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia. In an interview with the Belgian publication Le Soir and quoted by EFE, Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the EU “would defend every inch of its territory.” In Washington, US President Donald Trump assured that the United States would participate in the defense of Poland and the Baltic countries if Russia intensified its military activity in the region, AFP reports.
Drill – In Dâmboviţa County (southern Romania), the international exercise Carpathian Blue Shield 2025 is taking place until Friday, with the participation of 15 countries and five international security organizations. Over 500 Romanian and foreign military personnel are conducting tactical simulations and operational scenarios, aimed at strengthening partnerships and increasing the level of joint training in the face of security challenges, the Interior Ministry wrote in an Internet post. According to the cited source, Carpathian Blue Shield has reached its 11th edition and is proof of Romania’s firm commitment to security, stability and the protection of citizens. (LS)
