June 17, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 17.06.2025, 13:55
TALKS – The president of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, yesterday met with trade union leaders to discuss potential solutions to reduce the excessive budget deficit. President Dan said that the country is at a turning point, and the decisions that will be taken now will set the course for the coming years. Representatives of the main trade unions came up with proposals aimed at reducing the 9% deficit, but they strongly dismissed measures that would make the burden fall only on the shoulders of certain social categories. President Dan suggested that union and employer representatives be part of the specialized task forces established at ministry level, where future fiscal measures are discussed. On the other hand, pro-European parties in Parliament have not yet reached consensus on the policies of the new government. Although they failed to reach common ground regarding the increase in VAT and additional taxation of incomes exceeding a certain threshold, they did agree on reducing public spending and maintaining investments at high levels.
ATTACKS – Iran launched a new attack on Israel this morning in response to Israeli airstrikes that targeted several military targets last night, international news agencies report. Air raid sirens were heard in several regions of Israel after Iran launched missiles, the Israeli army announced in a statement, also claiming to have eliminated at least thirty senior officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite army of the Islamic regime in Tehran, as well as scientists involved in the development of Iran’s nuclear program. On the other hand, US president Donald Trump left the G7 summit hosted by Canada early, due to the crisis in the Middle East. Upon his arrival in Washington, the president is due to attend a meeting of his security council. American officials say the United States will not join the Israeli military offensive against Iran.
SEECP – Romania’s Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu, on Monday attended the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), hosted by Albania. The meetings marked the end of Tirana’s presidency-in-office. In his speech, Minister Hurezeanu reiterated Romania’s full support for accelerating the EU’s enlargement policy, based on each country’s merits in the reform process, equally towards the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighborhood, in particular the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The Romanian official also stressed the particular importance of the alignment of EU candidates with the EU’s foreign and security policy, an unequivocal indicator of their geostrategic orientation. He also encouraged the use of EU support mechanisms addressing the region, namely the Growth Plans for the Western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova, and the Facility for Ukraine.
ENVIRONMENT – The Romanian Environment Minister, Mircea Fechet, is today attending the meeting of EU Environment Ministers hosted by Luxembourg. The main topics on the agenda are end-of-life vehicles and the EU at COP30, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. As regards ELVs, EU ministers are expected to reach an agreement on the Council’s position regarding new regulations that will replace the current directives on end-of-life vehicles, as well as those on the potential for reuse, recycling and recovery. The main objective of this regulation is to improve the sustainability and circularity of the automotive industry, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. EU Ministers will also exchange views ahead of the UN Climate Change conference to be hosted by Belém, Brazil, in November.
WAR IN UKRAINE – Russian airstrikes targeted the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday night, destroying residential buildings and killing at least 14 people, including an American, Ukrainian authorities have announced. The latest attack is one of the bloodiest to target Ukraine since the Kremlin started the war. The city of Odessa was also targeted by Russian strikes. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, denounced new Russian strikes on “residential buildings in Kyiv” on Telegram, stating that Russia continues its war against civilians. Peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have reached a deadlock, given that Moscow has rejected the unconditional ceasefire wanted by Kyiv and its European partners, whereas Ukraine has described Russia’s demands as ultimatums.
U21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – Romania’s youth national team is today playing Slovakia, the host country, in its last match in Group A at the U21 European Football Championship. Romania has lost all chances of qualifying after sustaining defeats in the previous matches against Italy and Spain. Romania’s best result in its four participations so far in the European Youth Championship was recorded in 2019, when it reached the semi-finals. On the other hand, the Romanian U19 national team lost to the defending champions Spain, 3-1, on Monday evening, in Voluntari, in a match in Group A of the European Under-19 Football Championship, hosted by Romania. Spain has won with group with 6 points. Denmark is in second place with 3 points, Romania is third with 3 points, and Montenegro is last with no points. The last matches in Group A will take place on Thursday: Montenegro vs. Spain and Denmark vs. Romania. (VP)
