THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Sept. 29- Oct. 03, 2025
Daniela Budu, 04.10.2025, 13:34
Nicusor Dan in Copenhagen
Romanian President Nicusor Dan believes that the drone threat is no longer just a matter related to the Russian neighborhood, and the Anti-Drone Wall, which is being discussed at the European level, could be operational in a few months. Present on Thursday at the meeting of the European Political Community in Copenhagen, the president discussed with European leaders the security of the region, hybrid warfare, disinformation and cyber attacks. In this context, Nicusor Dan presented the report of the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding Russia’s involvement in the 2024 presidential elections in Romania. On the sidelines of the summit, Nicusor Dan had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson. “Romania and Sweden have a very close bilateral cooperation in the context of our European alliance,” the head of state wrote on a social network. According to him, the two also discussed how NATO can strengthen deterrence of threats from Russia. Also on the sidelines of the summit, the president also discussed with the Prime Minister of Armenia and recalled, in this context, that the next meeting of the EPC will take place in May 2026 in this country. On Wednesday, also in Copenhagen, Nicusor Dan participated in the Informal European Council, dedicated to strengthening common defense capabilities, as well as providing additional aid to Ukraine.
Army equipment projects
In the context of the security situation in the region, the Ministry of Defense in Bucharest has requested Parliament’s approval to purchase over 200 state-of-the-art tanks, which will be produced in Romania. In addition, dozens of derivative vehicles and machine guns are expected to reach the Romanian Army by in 2040. Bucharest will pay a total of over $7 billion to renew the Army’s equipment, in the context of Russia constantly testing the military capabilities of NATO members. According to a statement from the relevant ministry, the goal is to increase the Army’s operational capacity, in order to be able to fulfill both the country’s defense missions and international commitments. We recall that Romania, a member state of NATO and the European Union, signed a first contract in 2023 for the acquisition of 54 Abrams tanks from the US for just over a billion dollars, with full delivery in 2028. Romania, which has a 650-km border with Ukraine, currently hosts a US ballistic missile defense system and a permanent NATO battle group. Drones have repeatedly violated its airspace since Russia began attacking Ukrainian ports and infrastructure across the Danube. On the other hand, the government in Bucharest approved on Thursday the draft law on military volunteering and the draft law on national defense. Thus, young Romanians will be able to voluntarily participate in a military training program for 4 months. The second draft includes measures that simplify the decision-making chain in theaters of operations. Both documents will reach Parliament for debate and approval.
The first budget correction of this year
The first budget correction of this year was approved on Wednesday by the Government in Bucharest, with a higher deficit target of 8.4% of the Gross Domestic Product, renegotiated with European Commission officials. The extra money covers essential expenses for pensions, salaries and social assistance, but also the payment of interest on previous state loans, as well as investments. The Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, said that the budget correction is a reasonable “compromise”, and at this moment, no other tax increases are planned. On the other hand, he explained that the aim was to adjust the amounts for the NPRR loan area for ministries that no longer had money for investments. The Finance Minister also stressed that, by adopting the budget amendment before the Council of Finance Ministers on October 10, a very good signal will be sent, not only to the European Commission, but also to the markets. On Tuesday, the IMF Executive Director, Jeroen Clicq, stated that Romania is on the right path in the fiscal consolidation process, and assured that the Fund supports the continuation of the reforms initiated by the government in Bucharest. The IMF official was received by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan who stressed that the austerity measures, although criticized by the population, are indispensable for ensuring fiscal stability and for reducing social imbalances and inequalities.
The new academic year began with protests
The new academic year began on October 1 in Romania with student protests organized in Bucharest and in almost all university centers in the country, in parallel with inaugural ceremonies. Students criticize austerity measures and especially the reduction of the scholarship fund, but they are also dissatisfied with the conditions of study. The National Alliance of Student Organizations pointed out that these measures represent a direct attack by the Romanian Government on the basic needs that students have to continue their educational path, the government forgetting that the right to education is a right guaranteed by the Romanian Constitution. For his part, the Minister of Education, Daniel David, declared that the year 2025 is “probably the most difficult and dangerous year for the country after the 1989 Revolution”, in the context of political, economic and international crises, emphasizing that the education system was saved from the blockade due to the fiscal-budgetary measures adopted by the Government. In a report of his activity in which he also responds to the criticism of students related to scholarships, Daniel David specified that the resizing of scholarships will not irreparably affect the education system. He promises, after overcoming the fiscal-budgetary crisis, larger amounts for students and a reasonable number of scholarships for Olympians.
