August 25, 2025 UPDATE (2)

A roundup of local and world news

Newsroom, 25.08.2025, 20:00

DIPLOMACY – The Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy started on Monday in Bucharest.  According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event will provide the opportunity to reiterate a common vision, key in the current period of global risks. The head of Romanian diplomacy, Oana Ţoiu, said in her opening address that the status of EU and NATO member state, and the Strategic Partnership with the United States remain the foundations of Romania’s foreign policy. She drew attention to the fact that Russia remains the main security challenge in the region, regardless of how peace talks with Ukraine unfold and that Romanian diplomacy is at the forefront of this mission. “Through our joint efforts, we support the strengthening of the allied posture on the Eastern Flank and build a solid approach to the security of the Black Sea. We must develop the defense component with our partners – the United States, European allies, as well as our other partners. The message is simple and direct. You can rely on Romania”, Minister Ţoiu pointed out. The event in Bucharest, which is taking place under the title “A Decade of Changes, the Impact of Romanian Diplomacy”, is attended by the heads of diplomatic missions and consular offices of Romania abroad, as well as by senior Romanian officials. The special guests of this year’s edition are the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, who will address the participants via videolink, as well as the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popşoi, is also attending the event in Bucharest. On the second day of the meeting, the heads of Romanian diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad will be received by the country’s president, Nicuşor Dan.

MEETING – The Romanian Defense Minister, Ionuţ Moşteanu, met on Monday in Kyiv with the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Minister of Defense. Talks focused on topics regarding the development of economic cooperation in the military field and Romania’s participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Minister Moşteanu pointed out that Romania is closely following developments regarding security guarantees for Ukraine and will actively participate in all allied and European decisions on this matter. The Ukrainian Defense Minister, Denys Shmyhal, expressed his gratitude for the support offered by Romania and thanked the Romanian Government and people for the strong partnership and support provided to Ukraine. Ionuţ Moşteanu also attended the events marking the Independence Day of Ukraine and the meeting titled “Defense Cooperation Forum. Future Warfare”, jointly with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other NATO defense ministers.

RULING COALITION – Leaders of the parties in the ruling coalition met in a meeting on Monday to discuss the second fiscal package designed to curb the budget deficit and the calendar for assuming the government’s responsibility for these reforms. After an absence of almost 3 weeks, the Social-Democrats returned to the coalition table. They withdrew after their colleagues from the Save Romania Union (USR) opposed the organization of a state funeral and the establishment of national mourning for former Romanian President Ion Iliescu, the founder of PSD, who died early this month. During this period, the interim president of PSD, Sorin Grindeanu, nevertheless consulted with the Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, and the head of government said that at least in terms of government, the coalition functioned and a series of decisions were adopted. On the other hand, Bolojan specified that part of the proposals made by colleagues from PSD, related to taxation, are found in this second fiscal package. PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR and the representatives of national minorities are discussing better regulation regarding the outsourcing of profits of multinational companies, increasing the taxation of stock market gains, increasing the share capital of LLCs, introducing new rules for the taxation of rental income and a tax of 25 lei for parcels ordered from outside the EU.

PROTEST – Trade unionists in Romania’s education system on Monday staged a new protest in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Research in Bucharest, criticizing the new measures endorsed by the government for reducing the budget deficit. They are dissatisfied with the increased number of working hours, the rising number of students in classes and the funding of the country’s education system. Trade unions in education started a series of protest activities in late July and announced they would carry on their protests by picketing the Ministry of Education and the Government. They have also planned a protest march on September 8, when the new school year is set to start. (VP)