May 29, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 29.05.2025, 17:28

Budget. Expert-level discussions involving the pro-European parliamentary parties began in Bucharest on Thursday to outline a plan meant to reduce the country’s budget deficit. The decision to set up this group was made on Wednesday during marathon consultations that the country’s new president, Nicuşor Dan, had with the parties represented in Parliament in view of forming a new Government. The head of state stated that the best solution for the country would be a government led by a political leader, and not by a technocratic prime minister. He added that discussions on the governing formula will continue in parallel with those for establishing a plan to reduce the budget deficit. Nicuşor Dan also said that all four pro-European parties agreed to reduce state spending.

Hub. On Wednesday the European Union announced the setting up of a maritime security hub at the Black Sea in order to better monitor this region, which it considers strategically important. According to the head of the European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, the new hub will be Europe’s early warning system in the Black Sea. It will enhance situational awareness and help protect critical infrastructure, like offshore installations and subsea cables. Against the background of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, the EU also wants to increase military mobility by streamlining ports in the region as well as railways, roads and airports to be able to handle heavy military gear. Romania and the United States strengthened their defence strategic partnership on Wednesday, wheb the country’s minister of economy, Bogdan Ivan, signed the documents allowing the two countries to produce NATO standard ammunition for artillery and Abrams tanks. Washington’s initiative is part of a foreign 920-million-dollar military support package the US government granted Romania last autumn.

Celebration. The Ministry of National Defence has organized in Bucharest and all over the country a series of military ceremonies and religious services on the occasion of Heroes’ Day, a national holiday in Romania. The diplomatic representations and consular offices of Romania abroad are also hosting similar events to the memory of the Romanian soldiers killed in the line of duty in other countries. The Romanian authorities in 1920 ruled that the Heroes’ Day be celebrated concurrently with the Ascension of Christ, 40 days after his resurrection.

Floods. Romanian President Nicuşor Dan has called on authorities to intervene quickly when needed, to mobilize all necessary resources and to take urgent measures to save lives and protect property in areas at risk of flooding. He stressed that it is vital for Romania to invest in early warning systems, in resilient infrastructure adapted to new climate risks, as well as in preparing local authorities to be able to act effectively in the face of emergencies. Almost 70 localities in 16 counties across Romania have been affected by the recent torrential rains. According to authorities, in areas in the south, east and center, measures have been taken to evacuate water from houses, yards and basements as well as to clear fallen trees. In order to protect the population, local authorities have ordered the preventive evacuation of about 375 people from four counties. Road traffic on some national and county roads has been restricted. Rail traffic has also been affected on a highway in the southern mountainous area.

Football. Romania’s Under-21 footballers on Thursday left for Bad Loipersdorf, in Austria, where they will be training until June 9th. On June 4, the U21 side will be taking on the similar side of Georgia in a friendly, an eleven, which has also qualified for the European Championship in Slovakia. Selector Daniel Pancu has announced a preliminary lineup of 26 players, 9 from abroad and 17 playing for various football sides in Romania. The lineup for the final tournament will be announced on June 4. This has been the fourth participation in a row of Romania’s U21 side in a final tournament. Our footballers are part of group A and they will be up against Italy on June 11, Spain, three days later and Slovakia on June 17. The UEFA European Under-21 Championship will be taking place over June 11 and 28. (MI)