September 24, 2025
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 24.09.2025, 13:55
MOTION – The simple motion against the Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests, Diana Buzoianu, tabled by AUR and entitled “Weakening Romania’s energy security through environmental policies that obstruct the commissioning of hydroelectric power plants started before 1989”, was rejected by 200 votes. There were 87 votes in favor and 15 abstentions. In the first half of 2025, Romania recorded a 54% increase in electricity imports compared to the same period in 2024, the electricity trade balance became negative, and the country is a net importer, the initiators of the motion said. In turn, during Monday’s debates, the Minister of Environment said that AUR would like to return to the era when hydropower plants were built ‘with bulldozers’, without respecting laws and people, and mentioned that there are lawsuits opened in Court against the environmental agreements issued for the hydropower plants, listed in the text of the simple motion.
RULING – The Constitutional Court of Romania has postponed until October 8 the decision on the reform of the retirement system of magistrates. The Court must decide whether this decision, adopted by the Government by assuming responsibility, complies with the law. The current regulations allow magistrates to retire much earlier than other professional categories, but the government wanted to change this status.
UKRAINE – United States President Donald Trump says Ukraine can retake all of its territories occupied by Russia, with the support of Europe and NATO. The American leader’s comments were made at the end of an hour-long meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskky, at the UN headquarters in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It is an extraordinary shift in tone, after Donald Trump had previously said that Ukraine would have to cede territory in exchange for peace, according to Radio Romania’s correspondent. “In a post published on his Truth Social platform, Trump said that Kyiv, with the support of the European Union and the NATO military coalition, “is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form.” In his speech before the UN General Assembly, President Trump also criticized European states that buy oil from Russia, effectively financing its war against Ukraine. Romania’s delegation to the 80th UN General Assembly is led by Bucharest’s chief diplomat, Oana Ţoiu.
NATO – The North Atlantic Alliance is ready to repel any threat from Russia in the airspace of the allies. The announcement was made by the Secretary General of the organization, Mark Rutte, after Tuesday’s meeting of the North Atlantic Council, at which Estonia requested consultations under Article 4 of the Treaty, given that Russian military aircraft recently entered its airspace.
HANDBALL – In the Men’s Handball Champions League, Dinamo Bucharest is playing in the third group stage. The Romanian team will meet, tonight, on home soil, the Hungarian team Veszprem, in Group A. After the first two games, the Romanian champion is in 7th place out of eight teams. The top six will advance to the knockout stages.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea (64 WTA) qualified for the second round of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Beijing (China), after defeating American Caroline Dolehide ( 88 WTA), 6-2, 6-3. In the second round, Cîrstea will face Czech player Karolina Muchova (15 WTA). There are two other Romanians on the singles draw at the China Open, Jaqueline Cristian, who will face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spain), and Gabriela Ruse, who will be up against Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova in the first round. (EE)
