January 3, 2025
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 03.01.2025, 14:13
A roundup of local and international news.
SALARIES – Employees in agriculture and the Romanian food industry will lose money and compensating for the salary cut will lead to higher food prices, Sindalimenta, the national federation of trade unions in the field has warned, after the government passed the ordinance to reduce budget expenditure. Representatives of the food industry point out that the elimination of tax incentives in their field of activity and in agriculture will mean substantial salary cuts for employees, who will look for work in other, better-paid sectors. In order not to be left without personnel, employers will have to compensate them for the reduced salary, something that will be reflected in the price of products on the shelf and which will ultimately be covered by all consumers. The federation also points out that the substantial increase in the price of Romanian food products will make them much more difficult to sell compared to similar imported products, which will have lower prices. In addition, the elimination of tax incentives will lead to the bankruptcy of companies unable to withstand the impact and to an increase in the number of unemployed, with additional budget expenses.
SCHENGEN – On January 1, Romania and Bulgaria, EU members for 18 years, fully joined the Schengen area, with checks being also eliminated at land borders. The enlargement of the border-free area to 29 members comes after the two countries were partially included in the free movement area in March 2024, with border checks at ports and airports being eliminated. The moment of full entry into Schengen was marked at the Giurgiu-Ruse border crossing point by the Romanian and Bulgarian interior ministers, Cătălin Predoiu and Atanas Ilkov. Minister Predoiu said on that occasion 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, for Romanian companies. For a safe transition, a risk analysis method will be implemented over the next six months, when some vehicles will be randomly checked, a process that will not affect the main flow of passengers and vehicles.
PRESIDENCY – The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis made 22 official trips by private jet in 2024, to 11 countries in Europe, Asia and North America, by 7 less than in 2023, according to the Bucharest media. The number of flights for these visits was only 51, compared to 90 in 2023. The Presidential Administration rented planes for these trips from only two private companies, one of which was Romanian. The total amount paid for President Iohannis’ official trips remains unknown. The Presidential Administration refuses to make these data public, although Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced in October 2024 that he would declassify them. According to experts, the president’s most expensive trips were the visit to South Korea in April and the three trips to the United States in May, July and September.
ELECTRICITY – Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said that Romania exports electricity and natural gas to the Republic of Moldova on a commercial basis and only after covering national needs. He mentioned that Nuclearelectrica has concluded a contract for the supply of energy to the neighboring state and that discussions are underway with OMV Petrom and the Oltenia Energy Complex. In total, the technical capacity for exporting electricity from Romania to the Republic of Moldova is 430 megawatts, Burduja said. In the natural gas sector, Chisinau can cover all its domestic needs from Romania, the Minister explained. These clarifications come in the context in which Russian gas supplies to Europe, through Ukraine, the country invaded by Moscow’s troops, ceased on January 1, when a transit agreement between the two countries expired. The Republic of Moldova used to receive a significant part of its energy supply through the Cuciurgan power plant, in the pro-Moscow separatist region of Transdniester, which operated exclusively with gas from Russia.
CONCERTS – Romania is hosting numerous concerts and music festivals in 2025. The most important name announced for this year is Justin Timberlake, who will attend Electric Castle, held between July 16-20, in Cluj-Napoca. Matteo Bocelli, the son of the famous tenor Andrea Bocelli, will perform in Romania in June. The violinist and conductor André Rieu returns to Romania this year. He will hold four concerts in Cluj-Napoca, in November. Another notable presence will be that of Till Lindemann, the lead singer of the band Rammstein. The artist will bring to Romania the “Meine Welt” tour, which has enjoyed great success so far. At the same time, Richard Clayderman, Gipsy Kings, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, Proconsul, Irina Rimes or Holograf are also expected to perform, among others. Untold, Beach, Please!, Summer Well and Folk You are some of the festivals that will also be held later this year.
HANDBALL – The Romanian men’s national handball team are making their debut today, in the company of Turkey, at a new edition of the traditional NIRO Carpathian Trophy, held at home in Mioveni (south). On Saturday, the Romanians will meet Serbia, and on Sunday, Georgia. Between January 8 and 11, Romania will hold friendly matches in Spain. Between January 14 and February 2, the World Championship is taking place, where Romania missed the qualification, being eliminated in the play-offs by the Czech Republic.
