February 1, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 01.02.2025, 14:00
2025 BUDGET – The Government has passed Romania’s draft budget for 2025 without modifying any taxes. According to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the budget focuses on development with 30 billion EUR allotted to investments, an increase of about 6 billion EUR compared to the previous year. At the same time, operating costs will be reduced by 0.5%, and personnel and goods and services costs will be adjusted. The budget was built on economic growth of 2.5%, a budget deficit of 7.04% of GDP, and an average annual inflation rate of 4.4%. Investments and protecting citizens’ purchasing power are the main priorities of the state budget, authorities say. The ministries that will benefit from a budget increase are the ministries of Investment, Transport, Education and the Labor Ministry, while the ministries of Culture, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, the two chambers of Parliament and the Presidential Administration will see their budgets slashed. The budget and social security bills have been expedited to Parliament for debate and approval.
INVESTIGATION – European Parliament Vice-President Victor Negrescu, has called for the launch of a European action plan to recover the four Romanian artifacts stolen a week ago from an exhibition in the Netherlands, stressing that the robbery must be treated as a crime against the common European heritage. In the Netherlands, the police have revealed the identity and published the photos of two of the three arrested suspects (all Dutch). Law enforcement officers are trying to find out what became of the stolen items: the golden helmet from Coțofenești and the three Dacian bracelets. In the meantime, the exhibits from the collection displayed at the Drents Museum in Assen, except the four artifacts, have arrived in Romania.
TARIFFS – Imports from Canada and Mexico will be taxed 25% starting Saturday upon arrival in the United States, and those from China will be subject to a 10% tariff. President Donald Trump has stressed that these tariffs are instrumental to his economic vision for the United States and that they will help strengthen the economy. News agencies recall that the US, Canada and Mexico have adhered to a free trade agreement, signed by Donald Trump during his first term, but the document is expected to be reviewed in 2026. The White House said it is imposing higher taxes because Beijing produces and distributes fentanyl – a cheap, highly addictive drug, and Mexico and Canada allow the drug to enter the USA. As for Canada, Donald Trump announced that Canadian oil will be taxed 10% starting February 18. Analysts warn that this will trigger an increase in the inflation rate and cascading increase in prices. According to the BBC, 40% of the crude oil in American refineries is imported, and most of it comes from Canada. After president Trump gave assurances that higher customs duties will be introduced for European products in March, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that, on the sidelines of Monday’s informal meeting of European leaders, he would support a decision that encourages European companies to jointly manufacture and purchase weapons.
HOSTAGES – Three more Israeli hostages from Gaza, all men, have been released by Hamas, 16 months after they were kidnapped during the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Israel too has freed 182 Palestinian prisoners. This is the fourth prisoner exchange since the ceasefire agreement came into force in Gaza on January 19. At the time, Hamas released 18 hostages. According to the ceasefire agreement, during the first phase, 33 out of the approximately 100 hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave will be released. In the meantime, both parties will need to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire, which would also involve the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians are expected to cross into Egypt at the Rafah crossing point, which has been recently reopened.
RUGBY – The Romanian national rugby team trounced Germany 48-10 (13-10) on Friday, on the Triumphal Arch stadium in Bucharest in their debut match in this year’s edition of Rugby Europe Championship. In the next round, on February 8, Romania will play Belgium away from home. The top two teams in each group will qualify to the 2027 World Cup to be hosted by Australia. (VP)
