December 12, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

Newsroom, 12.12.2025, 20:00

Judiciary

Romania’s Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, on Friday said that both recent polls and public reactions show a pronounced negative perception of how state institutions function. The head of Government announced the creation of a government task force, which will analyze legislation and propose reforms.

The Prime Minister’s reaction came following a journalistic investigation by Recorder, focusing on corruption in the judiciary. In the Recorder investigation, several prosecutors and judges, some with protected identities, reveal how the leadership of the Bucharest Court of Appeal allegedly changed panels of judges to obtain favorable decisions for people charged with corruption.

We recall that the Section for Judges of the Superior Council of Magistracy decided to notify the Judicial Inspection to conduct verifications regarding the investigation by Recorder journalists. In this context, Justice Minister Radu Marinescu stated that the Judicial Inspection’s investigations must be conducted without delay, objectively, impartially, correctly and fully to clarify the accusations in the documentary.

ECOFIN

Romanian Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare on Friday supported in Brussels, at the meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), the modernization of European customs systems, acceleration of capital market integration, strengthening of financial oversight and a more balanced assessment of the impact of EU legislation on national economies.

“We need clear, efficient and easy-to-apply rules that support the development of capital markets. The objective must be to stimulate investments, so that in the near future, we create the conditions for developing new unicorns, including from the Eastern Europe and Romania area”, Minister Nazare said.

Also on the ECOFIN agenda were the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the annual document of the European Court of Auditors that evaluates how European funds have been used, identifies any irregularities and formulates recommendations for improving budget management.

War in Ukraine

Romania can become a regional hub for the reconstruction of Ukraine. This is the conclusion of talks during the international conference held Thursday and Friday in Bucharest on this topic. Politicians, experts, and business representatives debated on Friday several aspects related to Ukraine’s reconstruction. Topics included the strategic role of the Danube, the energy dimension of cooperation in the Black Sea region, as well as the social reintegration of refugees and veterans after the conflict in Ukraine ends.

In difficult situations, Romania urgently provided energy to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, Liberal deputy and former Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said. According to him, Romania has invested heavily in energy production, including obtaining grants from the European Union, and thus will have secured energy independence.

“Before long, Romania will become completely energy independent and, I recall, with regard to gas, that we are the leading gas producer in the EU. And now, with Neptun Deep in the Black Sea, in 2027, we will double our gas production and will be able to export natural gas to Moldova, to Ukraine and to other countries in Europe”, Sebastian Burduja said.

Leprosy

Romanian health authorities on Friday confirmed the second case of leprosy in Cluj-Napoca (northwest). These involve two women originally from Asia, employed as masseuses at a salon whose activity has been suspended until the completion of the health inquiry. Two other young women are currently undergoing clinical evaluation. These are the first cases of leprosy in Romania in the last 44 years.

Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete says the risk to the population remains low and that the situation is being managed with maximum responsibility.

Leprosy is a disease with slow progression and low contagiousness, which can only be transmitted through prolonged exposure, the Health Ministry notes.