January 1, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 01.01.2025, 20:00
A roundup of local and international news.
ATTACK – The perpetrator of the attack that killed and injured many people on Wednesday with a vehicle, in the American city of New Orleans is dead, American television stations reported, citing police sources, France Presse reports. The FBI announced that investigators found a possible improvised explosive device at the scene of the attack in the “French Quarter” of New Orleans, an extremely popular tourist area for celebrating the New Year. Federal police also announced that they are investigating the incident that killed and injured people in New Orleans as an act of terrorism, Reuters reports.
GAS SUPPLY – The separatist region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova halted, on the first day of the year, the supply of centralized heat and hot water to households, following the cessation of Russian gas transport through Ukraine. The gas flow cut was immediately felt in the predominantly Russian-speaking territory of approximately 450,000 inhabitants, where Russia has approximately 1,500 military personnel stationed. The Republic of Moldova, which received gas from Transnistria, will cover 38% of its needs from domestic production, and the remaining 62% will be imported from Romania. The authorities in Chisinau have established a state of emergency and have taken energy-saving measures.
SCHENGEN – Romania and Bulgaria entered the Schengen area with land borders at midnight, 18 years after joining the EU. The enlargement of the border-free area to 29 members takes place after the two countries had been partially included in the free movement area in March 2024, eliminating border checks at ports and airports. The moment of full Schengen accession was marked at the Giurgiu-Ruse border crossing by the Romanian and Bulgarian interior ministers, Cătălin Predoiu and Atanas Ilkovv, who symbolically lifted the barrier at the Danube Bridge checkpoint. Minister Predoiu said that it is a historic moment, which marks the full and irrevocable integration of Romania into the EU, a moment with special practical consequences for every Romanian citizen and for Romanian companies. For a safe transition, a risk analysis method will be applied over the next six months, when some vehicles will be randomly selected for additional checks, something that will not affect the main flow of passengers and vehicles.
DEBT – In Romania, public debt rose to 931.186 billion lei (186 billion euros) in October 2024, from 916.758 billion lei in the previous month, according to data published by the Ministry of Finance (MF). As a percentage of GDP, government debt increased to 54%, from 53.1% in September. On January 1, the Government’s emergency order came into force, which provides for the reduction of some public sector spending in 2025, the freezing of pensions and salaries in the public sector and of state allowances for children. The document also stipulates that the subsidy allocated to political parties will be reduced by 25% compared to the level granted last year. In Romania, the budget deficit rose to 7.12% of Gross Domestic Product at the end of November.
EU – Poland has taken over from Hungary the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. The priorities announced by Warsaw in this capacity aim to strengthen European security under all its aspects, namely internal, external, information, economic, energy, food and health. The government in Warsaw will continue to pressure Moscow to end its large-scale invasion of Ukraine and will also push the EU to maximize military and financial aid to Kyiv, as Donald Trump is expected to reduce American support. Poland also intends to increase economic pressure on Russia, by adding new sanctions and trying to stop Moscow from circumventing existing ones.
