September 3, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 03.09.2025, 13:55
REFORM – By mid-September, a government task force will identify measures to reduce the number of positions in the local administration by 10%, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has announced after the meeting between the country’s president, Nicuşor Dan, and ruling coalition leaders. The Prime Minister stated that efforts are being made to reduce positions in the central administration, arguing the staff is oversized. According to government simulations, a 10% cut in the public administration positions implies a 40% reduction in the maximum number of positions allowed by law and would mean the layoff of about 13,000 employees at national level. 1,665 local administrations would be affected by the measure. Almost 1,500 would have to lay off less than 10 employees, while 25 county councils and larger city halls would have to lay off between 100 and 300 employees. The figures have stirred disgruntlement among administration trade unions, which have announced a general strike if the government moves on with the reform.
VISIT – The President of the European Council, António Costa, is visiting Bucharest today for talks with Romanian President, Nicușor Dan, the Presidential Administration has announced. The EU official will visit most of the EU countries until September 19. This tour of the capitals will allow him to listen to the opinions of the heads of state or government regarding the situation in the EU and to prepare the ground for future European Councils and international summits. On Monday, President Nicușor Dan met at the “Mihail Kogălniceanu” military air base (southeast) with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who hailed Romania’s involvement in maintaining security on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. In turn, Nicușor Dan said that Romania will be able to host a European security hub.
IMF – A delegation of the International Monetary Fund is in Bucharest over September 3-12, analyzing recent developments in the Romanian economy. The team of experts will meet with officials from the Ministry of Finance, the National Bank and other institutions, as well as representatives of the private sector and NGOs. Talks represent a surveillance exercise, which is mandatory for all IMF member states. At present, Romania has no standing agreement with the IMF, although the international lender is assessing Romania’s economy every year, based on consultations stipulated under Article IV. The IMF has downgraded its outlook on Romania’s economic growth for 2025, from 3.3% previously to 1.6%, according to the World Economic Outlook report published in April.
SURVEY – In the context of geopolitical uncertainty, 68% of Europeans believe that the EU should play a more important role in protecting its citizens from global crises and security risks, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. By contrast, only 43% of Romanian believe the EU should play a more important role in protecting citizens from crises. Nine in ten Europeans want Member States to be more united, and 71% believe the EU needs more tools to face current global challenges. 73% of Romanians believe Member States should be more united. 37% of European respondents believe the EU should focus on defense and security and competitiveness, 32% on economy and industry, in order to strengthen its position in the world and face the current political and economic challenges. At the same time, Romanian citizens believe the EU should secure its position in the world by focusing on food security and agriculture (34%) and defense and security (30%). European citizens believe the European Parliament should focus on the following issues: inflation, price hikes and living costs (41%), defense and security (34%) and combating poverty and social exclusion (31%). 42% of Romanian citizens participating in the survey believe the priorities of the European Parliament should be inflation, price hikes and living costs, 37% say the EU should focus on support for the economy and the creation of new jobs, while 29% argue the top priority should be agriculture and food security. In Romania, the survey was conducted over May 5-25, based on 1,056 face-to-face interviews.
PARADE – Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched together in a historic image on Wednesday at a huge parade in Beijing, which was considered a show of military and diplomatic strength from a country its leader described as “unstoppable”, AFP reports. From the balcony of Tiananmen Square, the three leaders, with Xi in the center, watched side by side the giant parade marking the victory over Japan and the end of World War II. “The rebirth of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, and the noble cause of peace and human development will surely triumph”, Xi Jinping said in a speech. The Chinese president warned that “humanity is once again faced with a choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation”. Xi avoided any explicit reference to the United States or to touchy subjects such as Taiwan or trade tariffs. No prominent Western leaders attended the event.
ENESCU FESTIVAL – The Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich conducted by Paavo Järvi is tonight performing its second concert at the Palace Hall in Bucharest, on the sidelines of the George Enescu International Festival. The program includes Mahler’s Symphony no. 2. The Romanian Athenaeum will host a concert by Les Siecles orchestra, conducted by Ustina Dubitsky. The concert’s special guest will be violinist Isabelle Faust. The program includes the Violin Concerto in D major op. 61 by Beethoven and the Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” at the Royal Opera Covent Garden is today screened at the Auditorium Hall at the National Museum of Fine Arts. Meanwhile, Control club will host a concert by pianist Francesco Tristano, an innovative composer and artist who brings together the boundaries between Bach and techno, between baroque and minimalist electronic music. The George Enescu International Festival runs until September 21, this year marking 70 years since the death of the great Romanian composer and musician.
FOOTBALL – Romania’s national football coach, Mircea Lucescu, has announced the 26-man lineup for this month’s friendly match against Canada and the World Cup preliminaries match against Cyprus. Lucescu has called up 13 players who play for clubs abroad and another 13 footballers from the domestic championship. On Friday, September 5, Romania is playing Canada while on Tuesday, September 9, our team will play Cyprus away from home in Group H of the 2026 World Cup preliminaries. Bosnia tops the group tables with 9 points, followed by Austria and Romania with 6 points each, Cyprus with 3 points and San Marino with zero points. (VP)
