September 22, 2025 UPDATE (1)
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 22.09.2025, 16:00
TALKS – On a visit to Brussels, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan discussed with the European Commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, regarding the measures taken by Romania to reduce the budget deficit, a topic all the more important as the government in Bucharest is preparing a budget correction, which must reflect the targets assumed by the Romanian authorities. Another related topic is the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which was recently modified by Romania and submitted to Brussels, in order to attract as many funds as possible for delayed projects, which would help stabilize the economy. The Prime Minister also met with Andrius Kubilius, the EU Commissioner for Defense. Talks focused on projects worth almost €17 billion, which Romania wants to implement by 2030, with favorable funding terms part of the European SAFE program. These are strictly military projects, but also some with dual use, such as highways in eastern Romania. The last point on Prime Minister Ilie Bilojan’s agenda was the meeting with Roxana Mînzatu, the EU Commissioner for Social Affairs. Talks focused on the future multiannual budget of the EU, from which Romania will attract non-reimbursable funds.
INCIDENT – The UN Security Council is today convening in an extraordinary session, at the request of Estonia, after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The incident, which took place on Friday, lasted approximately 12 minutes and sparked strong reactions from Tallinn authorities and NATO. Romania condemns the violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu wrote on X, adding that this is further 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 fully stands in solidarity with Estonia”, Oana Ţoiu also wrote. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also sent a strong message to Moscow after the recent incursions by Russian aircraft and drones into the airspace of Poland, Romania and Estonia. In an interview to the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU “will 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 states if Russia increases its military presence in the region, AFP reports. In an earlier reaction, Russia accused Estonia of falsely claiming that three Russian military planes violated its airspace, arguing that Tallinn was trying to amplify an atmosphere of confrontation.
