August 14, 2025
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 14.08.2025, 13:55
Rating. Romania is awaiting Friday’s decision by the International Financial Rating Agency Fitch on the country’s rating. Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare estimates that, following the measures taken so far by the authorities in Bucharest, it will be reconfirmed at BBB- with a negative outlook. He also said that the deficit level of 7.1% of the GDP forecast in this year’s budget will not be reached. In 2024, Romania had the largest budget deficit in the European Union – over 9.3% of the GDP. The governor of the National Bank, Mugur Isărescu, has warned that Romania is unlikely to meet this year’s deficit target of 7%, but added that the downward trend would be a very good sign.
Economy. Romania’s economy grew by 0.3% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary estimates by the National Institute of Statistics. Based on data adjusted for seasonal factors and the number of working days, growth would actually be 1.4%. According to the same provisional data, in the second quarter of the year, the GDP grew by 1.2% compared to the previous quarter. The INS specifies that the report published today is based on a limited set of data that does not include elements related to the contribution of different sectors to economic growth.
Protests. In Romania, teachers have continued their street protests demanding the repeal of fiscal and budgetary measures affecting the education system. Trade unionists are particularly dissatisfied with the increase in working hours and class sizes. They point out that the measure to merge educational institutions will create numerous problems not only for teachers and principals, but also for parents and children. The measures taken by the government are based on the current possibilities of Romania’s budget and the realities of the education system, said Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan at this week’s meeting with representatives of the Education Trade Union Federations. He asked the Ministry of Education to analyze the implementation of the new regulations and, where problems arise, to propose specific solutions to remedy them.
Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has warned that there will be “severe consequences” if Vladimir Putin does not agree to make peace in Ukraine. The White House leader, who will meet with his Kremlin counterpart tomorrow in Alaska, assured Europeans that only Ukraine can decide whether it wants to cede any territory. On the other hand, the US president said that if the meeting with Putin is successful, he will try to organize a trilateral meeting as soon as possible, with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump’s comments came after a video conference with several European leaders, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump told them that the goal of the summit with Putin was to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, that any issues related to territories would have to be decided together with Volodymyr Zelensky, and that a peace agreement must also include security guarantees for Ukraine. Previously, Trump had repeatedly raised the possibility of Ukraine ceding territories claimed by Russia, an option that Kyiv has ruled out.
Gaudeamus. The Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair opened today in Sibiu, central Romania. Over 40 book industry professionals, from well-known publishers to distributors and educational material producers, are attending the event. This year’s edition will take place until Sunday in the city’s Big Square. Fifteen exhibition pavilions await readers, with publishing events and other surprises. For those who cannot make it to Sibiu, the physical fair will be complemented by an online edition, hosted by the gaudeamus.ro website. The honorary president of this edition is the Sibiu-based essayist Ion Dur.
Football. Romanian football champions FCSB from Bucharest, runners-up CFR Cluj (northeast) and Universitatea Craiova (south) will play decisive matches tonight to qualify for the European Cup playoffs. FCSB will face Kosovo’s FC Drita again in the third round of the Europa League, after winning 3-2 in Bucharest last week. CFR Cluj will also play for qualification for the Europa League play-offs, away against Portuguese side Sporting Braga. The Portuguese won 2-1 in Cluj last week. Also tonight, Universitatea Craiova will face Spartak Trnava in Slovakia for a place in the Conference League playoffs, with the Romanian team being the favorite after a 3-0 home win. (MI)
