September 1, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 01.09.2025, 13:55
MEASURES – Parliament is today expected to convene in a joint session as the government plans to take responsibility for the five projects adopted by the Bolojan Cabinet as part of the second package of fiscal reforms. The projects target pensions, the health sector, corporate governance of public enterprises, streamlining the activity of a number of local authorities, but also measures designed to recover and streamline public resources. A sixth project, which sought to reform the local public administration, was postponed. The ultranationalist party AUR in opposition announced it would file a vote of no-confidence against the coalition government, as well as simple motions against a number of ministers. The PSD – PNL – USR – UDMR government also took responsibility for the first package of measures designed to curb budget spending. The motion filed by AUR at that time was rejected.
FUNDING – The Romanian Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoş Pîslaru, is paying a visit to Brussels to discuss funding addressing Romania over the coming years. He will meet with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, as well as with Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for People, Skills and Training, Roxana Mînzatu. Minister Pîslaru said he will also discuss with representatives of donor states Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein the future of Norwegian grants and the EEA (European Economic Area). The new financial framework will benefit from funding of approximately €600 million, which will be used to finance important development projects and reduce gaps in Romania.
VISIT – The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is paying a visit to Romania today, as part of her tour of several countries on the eastern border of the European Union. In Constanța, the largest Romanian port on the Black Sea, she will discuss with President Nicuşor Dan about European defense on the Eastern Flank and strengthening cooperation between the European Union and NATO, the prevention, detection and deterrence of maritime and hybrid threats, as well as the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The visit of the President of the European Commission to Romania is the last stage of a tour that included Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Ursula von der Leyen wants to highlight EU support for Member States facing challenges due to the fact that they have common borders with Russia and Belarus or are located close to the front in Ukraine.
LANGUAGE DAY – The president of Romania, Nicușor Dan on Sunday attended events devoted to Romanian Language Day held in the Republic of Moldova, jointly with his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu. The two officials attended the opening of the Great National Dictation, which brought together over 2,000 participants in Chișinău. They also visited Strășeni, a city in the center of the Republic of Moldova, where they brought floral tributes to the statue of Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu and took part in the concert dedicated to the Romanian Language. Nicușor Dan and Maia Sandu highlighted the historical, identity and language ties between the two banks of the Prut.
INCREASES – In Romania, over 650 thousand co-insured persons (husbands, wives and parents without income who were dependent on an insured person and who until now were exempt from paying health insurance contributions), will lose their health insurance. Starting September 1, if they want to continue to benefit from health services in the public system, they must file a declaration with Tax Authorities and pay some €500. Also starting today, the cost of road tax and fines for non-payment has gone up, in addition to tolls for certain bridges.
ENESCU FESTIVAL – The Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Renaud Capucon, is today performing at the Romanian Athenaeum, as part of the George Enescu International Music Festival. The program includes works by Bach, Enescu and Beethoven. The evening’s soloist will be violinist Hyeonjeong Lee, a laureate of the 2024 George Enescu International Competition. Also today, at the Sala Palatului Concert Hall, the WDR Symphony Orchestra from Cologne is performing under the baton of Cristian Măcelaru, the artistic director of the George Enescu International Festival. The program includes the concert opera Salome by Richard Strauss. Also today, the Academia Lumières d’Europe, a musical residency project led by violinist David Grimal, is expected to give a concert. Four invited artists, a composer in residence, researchers and 15 talented young people from all over Europe will explore the theme ‘Resistance and Freedom’ through music and interdisciplinary dialogue. The 27th edition of the “George Enescu” International Music Festival takes place in Bucharest and throughout the country until September 21. This year, the event is themed “Celebrations”, marking 70 years since the death of the great composer.
TENNIS – The pair made up of Elena Gabriela Ruse of Romania and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine has advanced to the round of 16 of the women’s doubles at US Open after ousting Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil and Laura Siegemund of Germany in straight sets. In the next round, Ruse and Kostyuk will play Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and Elise Mertens of Belgium. (VP)
