June 12, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 12.06.2025, 20:18
DEFICIT The four pro-Western parties – PSD, PNL, UDMR, USR – that could become part of the new government have not yet reached a common position in Bucharest on the measures that should get the state out of the financial difficulty it is in, regarding the deficit. For the time being, although there are unanimously agreed aspects, such as the need to reduce budget spending, maintain large investments or the need to change some taxes, the solutions differ from one party to another. In order to give an impetus to the negotiations, President Nicuşor Dan is expected to participate in the discussions every day. Dan invited the representatives of the big trade union blocs to talks next Monday, after the Thursday’s protests put up by the members of Cartel Alpha Confederation in front of the Cotroceni palace in Bucharest. Protesters have called for an equitable fiscal reform in which the burden is fairly distributed between capital and labour. They have also asked that any measures aimed at curbing public expenses first involve the political decision makers, parties and MPs and also for the elimination of austerity measures, which they say, are affecting the working people and citizens.
PLANT The new gas plant in Mintia, Hunedoara county, western Romania, could start producing electricity at the end of this year, the Romanian Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, says. According to him, the plant in Mintia is the largest gas plant in Europe and the 1.4 billion Euro investment is one of the most important energy projects in the past 20 years in Romania. When it comes to gas supplies, the minister says that the board of the technical operator of the national transport system, Transgaz, has given assurances the transport network is going to be ready in October, when the first turbine is expected to become operational.
EUROSTAT In 2024 Romania had the second highest rate of severe material and social deprivation of young people with ages between 15 and 29 among the EU member states, of 14.7% as the bloc’s average level stood at 5.8%, data released on Thursday by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, say. So, the countries with the largest proportion of young people facing severe material and social deprivation were Bulgaria, 17.2%, Romania, 14.7% and Greece, 14.4%. In another development, the proportion was lower than 3% in 10 EU members such as Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Luxembourg, Czechia, Latvia, Cyprus, Ireland and Portugal. Also in 2024, the AROPE rate, which is the share of the population, which is at risk of poverty or social exclusion among young people with ages between 15 and 29 was 24.1%, 3.1% higher than for the total population. Among the member states, the aforementioned rate was ranging between 32.4% in Bulgaria and 9.9% in Slovenia. In 2024, 17.3 million young people were facing the risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU.
RIOTS Nine policemen have been wounded and six people arrested in Northern Ireland following the third night of anti-immigration protests. The revolts had been triggered by the recent indictment of two Romanian teenagers for attempted rape against a minor. The clashes took place in the city of Ballymena, 50 kilometers north of Belfast, where police were attacked with bricks, bottles, petrol bombs and fireworks. A center used for the temporary accommodation of immigrant families as well as several other buildings and cars in areas inhabited by immigrants have been set on fire. There are no reports of wounded people and the Romanian Foreign Ministry has given assurances the diplomatic personnel in the UK is cooperating with the local authorities to clarify the situation of the Romanian nationals.
TARIFFS The European Union has expanded its increased tariffs system to include all agricultural products imported from Russia and Belarus. Earlier only a part of these products coming from Russia had been subjected to higher taxation. The Council’s new decision refers to all of Moscow’s agricultural products and also includes doubled taxes for some fertilizers. Brussels believes the new measures are limiting the purchase of Russian products concurrently affecting Russia’s economy and its power to fund the war in Ukraine. Another objective is to reduce Europe’s dependency of these products, which the EU hopes will be replaced by local alternatives. Tariffs on Russian fertilizers will be applied gradually in three years to limit the potential negative impact on European farmers. (bill)
