August 31, 2025 UPDATE (2)
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 31.08.2025, 20:00
LANGUAGE DAY – The President of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in Degree of Knight for promoting culture to the “Alexei Mateevici” Memorial House in Zaim commune, Căuşeni district of the Republic of Moldova. The distinction was granted on the occasion of Romanian Language Day during a ceremony organized at the headquarters of the Romanian Embassy in Chişinău. “There is no identity without roots, even more so in the context of the Romanian language, which we celebrate today, with the history it has in Bessarabia, a troubled history, and with the courage that the people here have had in preserving this identity” the Romanian president said. Previously, Nicuşor Dan and Moldovan President Maia Sandu participated in the Great National Dictation, an event organized in Chişinău, where over 2,000 people demonstrated their knowledge of the Romanian language. On this occasion, Dan said that Romania and the Republic of Moldova have common values and need each other to prosper. In turn, Maia Sandu stated that the Romanian language is the strongest bridge between the two banks of the Prut and must be honored and respected every day. This is Nicuşor Dan’s third visit to the Republic of Moldova since taking office, after the official one on June 10 and the private one on August 8. Romanian Language Day is marked every year on August 31 in Romania, the Republic of Moldova and in Romanian-language communities abroad.
SHOW – New flight demonstrations by pilots participating in the Bucharest International Air Show were held on Sunday in the capital-city. The largest air show in Romania was venued at Băneasa Airport and included live concerts, fireworks, exhibitions, as well as special activities for children. Over 200 civil and military aircraft and 200 pilots and parachutists, including from abroad, participated in the air show. The event marks 115 years since the first Romanian flight, by Aurel Vlaicu. For the first time, one of the most famous aerobatic formations in the world – Patrouille de France, part of the French Air Forces, took part in the event, which the public could attend free of charge.
REFORM – After five hours of talks, ruling coalition leaders failed to reach a decision regarding the reform of the local public administration. The Social-Democrats insisted on continuing to fund local investments and on capping layoffs in local administration at 25%. Discussions on this topic will continue in the coming period. On Monday evening, the Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan is expected to appear before Parliament to present the fiscal measures included in the five draft laws of the second package, approved on Friday by the government. These refer to the fiscal field, the pensions of magistrates, the health reform, the reform of a number of regulatory and control institutions, as well as of state-owned companies. The opposition announced its intention to file a motion of no-confidence, if the government takes responsibility in Parliament. If the motion fails, the reform package will be formally adopted.
FIRES – A new unit of 40 Romanian firefighters arrived in Greece as part of a rotation designed to support firefighting activities and monitor risk areas in eastern Athens. Romanian firefighters also participated in training sessions and exercises jointly with Greek and French counterparts. They also conducted field reconnaissance to familiarize themselves with the specifics of the area, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations reported. The unit will remain in Greece until September 15. This week the 51 Romanian firefighters who helped their Spanish colleagues extinguish the fires that broke out in several regions of the Iberian Peninsula in the last week also returned home.
IMF – A delegation of the International Monetary Fund is arriving in Bucharest on Wednesday to analyze recent developments in the Romanian economy. The team of experts will meet with officials from the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank and other institutions, as well as representatives of the private sector and NGOs. Talks will continue until September 12 and represent a surveillance exercise, which is mandatory for all IMF member states. Meanwhile, Romania’s budget deficit rose to 4.04% of GDP after the first 7 months of 2025, from 3.68% at the end of June and reached about €15 billion, according to the Ministry of Finance. During this period, total state revenues and expenditures increased by approximately 11%. Last year, the budget deficit in the same period also stood at 4.04% of the GDP.
VISIT – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to pay a visit to Romania on Monday. She is scheduled to meet with Romanian President Nicuşor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan near the Black Sea port city of Constanța. Talks will focus on strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as on issues related to the prevention, detection and deterrence of maritime and hybrid threats. In May, Brussels adopted a Black Sea security strategy, which includes investments in ports, railways and airports for better troop mobility in case of need. The strategy’s main objective is to create a maritime security hub to monitor security at sea and issue early warnings for the whole of Europe. Romania is the final stopover on the European official’s tour of several countries on the EU’s eastern border, which the European Commission defines as states on the frontline in the face of Russian aggression. (VP)
