August 4, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 04.08.2025, 20:00
VIA TRANSILVANICA – The long-distance trail known as Via Transilvanica now officially has a law protecting it, after the government in Bucharest supplemented the legislation regulating hiking trails with implementing regulations. The initiators of Via Transilvanica say that this is a huge step forward for sustainable tourism and the development of local communities. The Tăşuleasa Social Association, which developed the project, is now working on the documents for the accreditation of the country’s first long-distance trail. “Via Transilvanica represents Romania. Last year, I think it represented Romania in international publications more than all of Romania put together,” says Alin Uşeriu, the organization’s founder. Launched in 2018, Via Transilvanica covers over 1,600 km, crossing ten counties and hundreds of local communities with their ethnic, cultural, historical, and geographical diversity, while also passing through 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The route can be traveled on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback.
TALKS – The executive and the governing coalition in Bucharest are continuing this week to analyze the measures contained in the second fiscal package aimed at economic recovery and reducing the budget deficit. These include, among other things, local government reform, reducing the number of local police officers, and investments that can still receive funding this year through the Anghel Saligny program. Discussions were recently held with mayors who protested, dissatisfied with the fact that many of the projects launched for the development of local communities could be blocked due to lack of funds. The second package of measures would also include the reform of state-owned companies, proposals to combat tax evasion and streamline the National Fiscal Authority’s work in collecting revenue for the state budget, as well as healthcare reform. Discussions will also continue on finalizing the draft law proposing to increase the retirement age for magistrates and reduce the amount of their pensions.
EXERCISE – Between August 4 and 18, the “Fire Shield 2025” exercise is taking place, conducted by Moldovan, Romanian, and American forces at the Moldovan Army Training Centers. According to the Ministry of Defense in Chisinau, the exercise, which has been held since 2015, has become a tradition in the training of Moldovan military personnel alongside their Romanian and American colleagues. The training will be conducted in accordance with international quality standards. According to the annual training plan, military technical units will also be used, which, during the exercise, will travel on national roads, especially at night, without disrupting road traffic.
CULTURE – Following an audit, the Romanian Court of Auditors found that 60% of the movable cultural assets held by the Ministry of Culture and its subordinate institutions have a value of less than or equal to 10 lei (equivalent to approximately 2 euros). The institution claims that there is no centralized and updated record of movable and immovable cultural assets belonging to the state that are held by the ministry or its subordinate entities. The audit also found that some historical monuments had been poorly managed. The audit also revealed that state-owned properties were rented out without complying with the law. Problems were also found in the organization of international exhibitions and the temporary export of cultural assets.
POPOVICI – Romanian swimmer David Popovici (20), double world champion in Singapore, said upon his return to the country on Sunday evening that he felt proud of his achievements and denied rumors of a possible retirement. He has stated that one of his goals now is to help renovate a swimming pool in Bucharest. “I don’t think the state is doing everything it could to make sport a national priority, and as I’ve always said, I think sport is the best ambassador for the country,” added David Popovici. The Romanian swimmer won two gold medals in the 100 and 200 m freestyle events at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. He thus became the first swimmer in history to win the 100 and 200 m freestyle events at two different editions of the World Championships (Budapest 2022 and Singapore 2025).
RESTORE – Romania will activate the European RESTORE mechanism, created specifically for cases of major natural disasters, in the context of the floods in Suceava and Neamţ (northeast), announced the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoş Pîslaru. “This is the first time this instrument will be used in Romania, and it will allow us to quickly reallocate millions of euros from European funds to the affected areas to support the restoration of infrastructure, housing, and small businesses in the area,” the minister said. Following the floods at the end of last month, three people died, thousands were affected, dozens of homes were destroyed, and over 1,300 homes and outbuildings were damaged. The floods affected the road infrastructure, as well as the electricity and water supply networks. (EE)
