October 15, 2025 UPDATE (1)
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 15.10.2025, 16:43
PENSIONS – The Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday adopted the draft law on the payment of private pensions. The main regulation is that people who opt to withdraw money from privately administered funds will initially receive only 30% of the amount, and the rest will be spaced out over eight years. As an exception, patients with oncological diseases can withdraw the full amount. Previously, depositors could withdraw all their money in a single installment, if they did not opt for spaced-out payments. Over 9.3 million Romanians are enrolled in the private pension system, and the assets total the equivalent of over 10% of the country’s GDP.
NATO – The North Atlantic Council on Wednesday took place at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, attended by NATO Defense Ministers. Talks focused on Allied plans established at the Hague summit and related financing, in particular the gradual increase in defense spending to 5%. Another topic concerned the status of the new deterrence and defense operation on the Eastern Flank, specially designed to deter and fend off incursions by Russian drones and aircraft into NATO airspace. According to Radio Romania’s Brussels correspondent, support for Ukraine and developments on the front were also on the agenda, and the Ukrainian Defense Minister was one of the guests. The meeting was also attended by Romanian Defense Minister Ionuţ Moşteanu, who recalled that Romania enjoys a consistent presence of allies on its territory. He also said that when peace is achieved in Ukraine, the Alliance must continue to consolidate its position, especially in the Black Sea area.
PROJECT– The Romanian Interior Ministry has launched the “Traffic Safety” project for public debate, which includes measures to increase road safety in Romania, as well as simplified public services for citizens. According to Minister Cătălin Predoiu, the project seeks to ensure inter-institutional collaboration for a unified and efficient response, the integrated use of traffic data and information, the simplification of administrative processes and correct, constant and accessible communication for citizens. Police data shows that, last year, almost 1,500 people died in road accidents, and over 3,000 were seriously injured. This year, over 900 people lost their lives. The Interior Ministry proposes, among other things, the integration into the e-Sigur traffic monitoring system of the police and cameras of local authorities and the Road Company. At the same time, the concept of “average speed” is introduced, as well as a simplified mechanism for determining sanctions. Romania has the lowest level of road safety in the European Union. (VP)
