November 19, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Cristina Mateescu, 19.11.2025, 19:50
Pensions. Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan told an interview on a private TV station that the bill on magistrates’ pensions has been finalised and is on track to being approved. He confirmed the information according to which the magistrates’ pension will amount to 70% of their last net salary, and the transition period to the retirement age of 65 will be gradual, within 15 years, compared to 10 years in the previous version of the bill. The Prime Minister said the government will ask the Superior Council of Magistracy to issue an opinion within a reasonable period of time, shorter than 30 days if possible, so that it can take responsibility for the project in Parliament and, thus, meet the deadline set in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Bolojan said there is a fairly high risk that Romania will lose funds under the Plan unless it meets the deadline for adopting the law on magistrates’ pensions, namely November 28.
Inflation. The annual inflation rate in the European Union fell to 2.5% in October, from 2.6% the previous month, while Romania is still the country with the highest inflation rate, at 8.4%, according to data published on Wednesday by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat). Last month, the EU member states with the lowest annual inflation rates were Cyprus, France and Italy. At the opposite pole, the EU countries with the highest inflation rates were Romania, Estonia and Latvia. Also, the annual inflation rate in the euro zone fell to 2.1% in October, from 2.2% the previous month. In the case of Romania, according to data previously published by the National Institute of Statistics, the annual inflation rate in October stood at 9.8%.
Defence. The European Commission proposes the creation of a “military Schengen” area by 2027, to allow the rapid movement of troops and military equipment, including in the event of crisis situations. Brussels aims to simplify the uneven and cumbersome procedures between member states and improve the infrastructure on which military equipment can move. Also on Wednesday, the Commission launched the EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap, to step up the modernisation of the sector. The focus will be on advanced technologies, in particular artificial intelligence, drones, quantum and space systems, as well as supporting new actors in the industry, from start-ups to innovative SMEs. In both initiatives, the Commission says, there is coordination with NATO, and the proposals themselves are in response to the lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine.
Protests. Trade unions in education on Wednesday again picketed the headquarters of the education ministry in Bucharest to protest against the new spending cuts that would affect the system. The ruling coalition is considering a 10% cut in spending across the entire public sector. The major trade union federations in education are opposed to these new funding cuts, which they consider ill-timed and deeply unfair, and with serious consequences, given that the sector has already seen austerity measures. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan gave assurances that teachers’ salaries will not decrease next year. He said that education will not be affected by other budget cuts apart from those already resulting from the government’s first reform package. In another move, defence minister Ionuţ Moşteanu said a 10% cut in army personnel spending does not seem appropriate. Four trade union confederations are planning to stage a large-scale demonstration in front of the President’s Office in December to ask the President of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, to fulfill his role as a mediator between the state and society and accused the government of refusing to consult with citizens regarding the fiscal-budgetary measures taken. (CM)
