May 26, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 26.05.2025, 20:16
MANDATE Pro-western Nicuşor Dan formally kicked off his mandate as president of Romania on Monday. Dan was sworn in during a solemn Parliament session on Monday and delivered his first speech as president in which he presented his priorities, among which budget recovery takes pride of place. There is a need for a government backed by a Parliament majority and for commitment to implementing fiscal reform measures, which are unavoidable, the President has also said. Dan has also mentioned the need for curbing tax evasion, red tape and the big corruption, to ensure the digitalization and investment in education, healthcare, agriculture or to consolidate the country’s defence system. Regarding the country’s foreign policy, he says that Romania must keep the direction it had until now and step up efforts to become a strong voice in its dialogue with European and Euro-Atlantic partners. Referring to the Republic of Moldova, Nicusor Dan spoke about supporting its European roadmap, strengthening and expanding joint projects in the field of energy and transport infrastructure. The president says he will be listening to the voice of society and has called on all the Romanians in the country and abroad to get involved in the efforts of reforming the state.
MESSAGE Maia Sandu, President of the ex-soviet Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova, on Monday congratulated Romania’s new President Nicusor Dan at the beginning of his mandate. In a post on the Internet, Sandu underlined the importance of the relationship between the two states and the joint commitment to European values. In a Radio Chisinau broadcast the president of the Republic of Moldova says that ‘on a common history foundation we are building the future together’ and insisted on projects which are directly benefitting citizens.
TENNIS Four tennis players from Romania are on the main draw of Roland Garros, the year’s second Grand Slam tournament, which kicked off on Sunday. The Romanians to play in Paris were initially five, but Sorana Cirstea has withdrawn due to some health issues. On Monday, Jaqueline Cristian qualified for the competition’s second round after a 6-1, 6-0 win against Kimberly Birrell of Australia.
MILITARY The US Embassy in Bucharest marked the 9-year anniversary of the missile defence system at Deveselu, in southern Romania, an important milestone in the bilateral Strategic Partnership. This state-of-the-art system plays a vital role in NATO’s missile defense architecture, and its activation has enhanced security and deterrence on the eastern flank, the US Embassy also states, adding that the cooperation between US and Romanian forces proves the strength of the Alliance, as well as the shared commitment to regional stability.
TRADE The US President Donald Trump said he gave the European Union another month to conclude a trade deal and avoid raising tariffs. He had threatened on Friday to introduce 50% tariffs on European imports as of June 1, but following a telephone conversation with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, he said he had extended the deadline. “Europe is ready to move negotiations forward quickly and decisively. To reach a good agreement, we will need time until July 9,” the EC president said on Sunday, after the call with Trump. Since he returned to power, Donald Trump has regularly attacked Europe, which he sees as worse than China in trade relations, the media reports. The US puts its trade deficit with the EU in goods at USD 235 billion in 2024, but the European Commission points out that the US surplus in services brings this deficit down to USD 57 billion.
(bill)
