July 6, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 06.07.2025, 19:45
Government. The coalition government will assume responsibility in Parliament on Monday for its first package of fiscal measures aimed at reducing the budget deficit. The planned measures include the introduction of two VAT rates, of 11% and 21%, the elimination of the exemption from paying health insurance for pensions over 3,000 lei (600 euros), the increase in excise duties, a surcharge on gambling and the additional taxation of banks. MPs can submit amendments, and the government will decide on the final form of the bill in a meeting. Talks were held with unions and employers’ associations, but no provision in the fiscal package was modified. The unions are demanding the elimination of subsidies granted to political parties and the transfer of 5% of labour taxes from employees to employers. Trade unions in healthcare and education said they would stage a protest outside Parliament on Monday, while employers’ associations are warning that the VAT increase will lead to price increases, lower consumption and the closure of businesses. Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said the package of fiscal measures was discussed with the European Commission and there were signs that if it was approved before the Ecofin Council on July 8, the assessment would be good. He also said that representatives of the Fitch rating agency would begin assessing the measures after July 15 and said he was optimistic they would maintain Romania’s investment-grade rating.
Weather. The Romanian weather service has issued a red code warning for persistent heat on Sunday, valid on Sunday and Monday, in 4 counties in southwestern and southern Romania, where highs of 38-41 degrees Celsius are expected. Thermal discomfort will be experiences, as the temperature-humidity index will pass the critical threshold of 80 units. Also, an amber code warning for heat and high thermal discomfort will be in force in the west, south, partially in the centre and in the southeast, where highs of 36 to 39 degrees Celsius are expected. A yellow code for heat and high thermal discomfort is in force in the northwest, centre and east. In these areas, the highs range from 33 to 37 degrees Celsius. A yellow code warning is also in place for atmospheric instability on Sunday in the Southern Carpathians and the Curvature Carpathians. Another red code warning for heat will be in place from July 7 to July 8 in the south of the country and in Bucharest, where temperatures will hit 41 degrees. The rest of the country will be under yellow and amber codes for heat and thermal discomfort.
Heat wave. The health ministry has requested public health departments, ambulance services and emergency hospitals to activate their heat wave action plans. The ministry has instructed ambulance services to put their crews on alert and supplement their staff if the number of emergency calls is on the rise, and has asked public health departments to check the medical care conditions in health care facilities, including stocks of emergency medicine, especially medicines for diseases caused or made worse by the heat, and ensure the needed number of staff. As of Monday, the National Road Infrastructure Management Company will impose traffic restrictions in 15 counties in the south as a result of the red code for heat. Vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes will not be able to travel on motorways, expressways and national roads in these counties. The National Railways Company said that, in the context of weather forecasts indicating extreme temperatures across the country in the coming period, special measures will be taken for the safe operation of railway traffic. Thus, in areas where the temperature on rail tracks hits 50 degrees Celsius, speed restrictions will be in place.
Tennis. The Romanian-Russian pair Sorana Cîrstea and Ana Kalinskaia qualified on Sunday for the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles at Wimbledon. In the round of last 16, the two defeated the all-Russian pair Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider, seeded five, in three sets. Sorana Cîrstea is the only Romanian player still in competition at Wimbledon. (CM)
