July 1, 2025
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 01.07.2025, 13:55
Tax evasion – Tax evasion, the situation at the Praid salt mine and the war in Ukraine were the main topics on the agenda of Monday’s meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT) in Bucharest. Tax evasion remains a major vulnerability, the members of the CSAT established. They agreed that it is important to take measures such as intensifying controls, the accelerated digitalization of the tax system and the use of all legal instruments to recover damages to the state. Regarding the future of the salt mine, which was flooded last month, two scenarios were considered: one of reconditioning the old mine and the other of establishing a new mine for visitors and a production one. Regarding Ukraine, Romania supports the cessation of the conflict and will continue to support the neighboring country in its fight to defend its sovereignty.
Price cap – As of Tuesday, July 1, Romania will eliminate the cap on electricity prices, and bills will be higher. Almost four million households will receive a monthly support of 50 lei (the equivalent of about 10 euros), in the form of a voucher, as help to pay electricity bills. The money will be granted until the end of March next year. Also as of today, the cap on the Third-Party Liability Insurance (RCA) tariffs, a measure imposed two years ago, after the bankruptcy of the Euroins company, will also cease. The Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) says that the market has stabilized and no major price increases are expected.
Navy – The Romanian Naval Forces (FNR) training ship ‘Mircea’ will depart on Wednesday, July 2, from the military port of Constanța (on the Black Sea), on the international training march, having on board, along with the crew members, 75 students from the ‘Mircea cel Bătrân’ Naval Academy and 13 students from partner universities in Bulgaria, France, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Turkey. The teaching staff and instructors from the Naval Academy and from the training ship will coordinate the students’ practical activities during the 37 days of the march and will ensure that all the theoretical knowledge acquired will be complemented with the unique experience on board the legendary sailing ship, shows the press release sent by the FNR. The mission of training future officers will be completed, this time too, by the one of representation, the training ship ‘Mircea’ being known as the longest-serving ambassador on the seas and oceans of the world of the Romanian Naval Forces and of Romania. The ship will return to the military port of Constanta on August 7, and during its deployment in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, the sailing ship will make stops in the ports of Thessaloniki (Greece), Durres (Albania), Bari (Italy) and Varna (Bulgaria).
Schengen – As of midnight, border controls on the border between Bulgaria and Romania have been lifted. With the accession of the two countries to the Schengen Area by land borders too, starting on January 1 this year, it was decided that there would be increased border controls for six months. July 1, 2025 marks 40 years since the start of the free movement of people and goods in the European Union, known as the Schengen Area. This achievement is today faced with challenges that we must overcome together, the most important of which are the Union’s external borders, migration and smuggling, said Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration.
CCR – The Constitutional Court of Romania is discussing today the complaint filed by the populist party S.O.S. Romania (in opposition) regarding the appointment of Mihai Busuioc as a judge of this court. Busuioc was appointed by the Senate plenum, at the proposal of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (in the governing coalition). In its complaint, S.O.S. claims that Mihai Busuioc does not meet the conditions to be a constitutional judge and argues with the CV he submitted to the Senate. The complaint states that Busuioc does not have a higher legal education nor at least 18 years of experience in legal activity or in higher legal education. According to the Constitution, the CCR is composed of nine judges, appointed for a nine-year term, which cannot be extended or renewed. Of these, three judges are appointed by the Chamber of Deputies, three by the Senate and three by the President of Romania.
Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse (27 years old, 58 WTA) was eliminated in the inaugural round of the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament, losing in a hard-fought battle to the American Madison Keys (30 years old, 8 WTA), who prevailed in three sets, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 7-5, in a match played at over 30 degrees Celsius. The Romanian Anca Todoni (20 years old, 90 WTA) was also eliminated in the first round of the Wimbledon tournament on Monday, being defeated in two symmetrical sets, 6-4, 6-4, by Cristina Bucşa (27 years old, 101 WTA), a player born in the Republic of Moldova, in Chisinau, who represents Spain.
EU – Denmark takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union today, and its priorities are the Ukrainian integration process, defense and migration. The Ukrainian file is currently blocked by Hungary and, according to analysts, this also affects the neighboring Republic of Moldova (with a majority Romanian-speaking population), as the two states have been considered as a package. In the field of defense, Denmark wants a clear investment and equipping strategy. Regarding migration, Copenhagen is one of the signatories to the letter criticizing the approach of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the expulsion of migrants or asylum seekers with criminal records. During the Danish presidency, the Union should also adopt the package on the return of migrants and the list of safe third countries, documents that complement the strategy established by the Pact on Migration, Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels reports. (LS)
