October 8, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 08.10.2025, 20:00
WEATHER In Romania, the weather will warm up after several counties in the south, east, southeast and centre of the country were under code yellow, orange and red alerts for heavy rainfall and strong wind until Wednesday. Dozens of localities in 23 counties were affected by the severe weather, including the capital city. In the counties where the code red alert was in place, schools were closed on Wednesday.
DEFENCE The defence minister Ionuţ Moşteanu Wednesday met with the head of the Organisation for Common Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), Joachim Sucker. A framework cooperation agreement was signed between the Romanian government and OCCAR on this occasion, an important step towards consolidating Romania’s participation in European defence programmes. According to a news release issued by the defence ministry, the agreement enables the Romanian defence industry to participate directly in the Organisation’s programmes regarding the development, procurement and maintenance of modern military equipment. ‘Signing this agreement is a major step towards the modernisation of the army, towards deeper integration with the European defence system and towards supporting the national defence industry. It gives us access to the latest technologies and strengthens cooperation with European partners’, Ionuţ Moşteanu said. Also on Wednesday in Bucharest, the Romanian official discussed cooperation opportunities in the defence industry with officers of the European Investment Bank.
JUDICIARY The Constitutional Court of Romania has postponed until October 20 a complaint of the High Court of Cassation of Justice regarding the law reforming the magistrate pension system. Under the bill, for which the government has taken responsibility before Parliament, the length of service required for magistrates to retire increases from 25 to 35 years, and monthly pension benefits are reduced from 100% to 70% of the last net salary. The reform also provides for a 10-year transition period, after which magistrates will retire at the age of 65. Also on Wednesday, the Court dismissed two of the complaints filed by the opposition parties AUR, S.O.S. and POT against the laws for which the Government has taken responsibility in Parliament, namely the law on corporate governance in state-owned companies and one introducing certain measures in public healthcare. However, the Constitutional Court has again deferred the ruling on a complaint concerning measures for the recovery and efficiency of public resources.
AGRICULTURE The PM of Romania Ilie Bolojan had a meeting on Wednesday in Bucharest with the European commissioner for agriculture and food, Christophe Hansen. According to a government press release, the PM said it was essential for the future Common Agricultural Policy to remain balanced and to have an adequate budget, after some member states suggested cuts in the European funding for the sector. Ilie Bolojan emphasised that the rules for accessing the funds must be realistic and adapted to the development level in each state, in order to ensure the protection of farmers and effective access to available resources. In turn, Christophe Hansen presented measures designed to protect EU farmers and to support the development of rural areas, so that they become more attractive for younger generations. The European official’s visit to Bucharest takes place amid negotiations on the new Common Agricultural Policy and the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034.
EU The European Commission calls on Romania and France to fully align their national legislation with the EU legislation on road infrastructure safety. The two countries have two months to respond and address the shortcomings reported by Brussels. According to a statement from the European Commission, these are measures taking into account the safety of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles). In addition, the two countries must constantly check road safety across the entire network, through inspections and planned remedial measures. They must also ensure that road signs and markings are legible and detectable by human drivers and automatic assistance systems. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may take additional steps within the infringement procedure.
EC Europe ‘must respond’ to Russia’s ‘hybrid warfare’, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday. Citing drone flights over strategic targets in Belgium, Poland, Romania, Denmark and Germany, severed submarine cables and electoral interference, the EC chief insisted that these were not random acts of harassment. The choice before us is very simple: either we stand back and watch the Russian threats escalate, or we confront them with unity, deterrence and determination, Ursula von der Leyen said. (AMP)
