THE WEEK IN REVIEW
20-24 October 2025
Roxana Vasile, 25.10.2025, 12:39
President Nicușor Dan in Brussels
Romanian President Nicușor Dan joined the heads of state and government of the European Union who met in Brussels on Thursday for discussions on intensifying support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia to achieve peace. In fact, the day began with the announcement that the Union had managed to adopt the 19th package of sanctions against Moscow.
As President Dan explained at the end of the Council:
“Up until now, Romania has acted in solidarity with the countries of the Union, it has joined the sanctions packages, and I believe that in the immediate future we will do the same. Whenever you discuss sanctions, you also discuss the collateral effects that these sanctions have for parts of your industry or the partner industry,”.
The new sanctions include a progressive ban on imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia starting from April 2026 for short-term contracts and, from January 1, 2027, for long-term ones. The EU also decided to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats between the EU countries and punished 45 new companies that help Moscow evade sanctions.
Romania has a revised version of the NRRP
The European Commission approved this week the final version of Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, worth a total of 21.4 billion euros. The decision marks the end of the renegotiation process of the NRRP, which is now realistic, supports the economy and local communities – said Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. The aim of this revision, not an easy one, was to reduce the pressure on the 2026 state budget, the deficit, avoid penalties that would have resulted from the delay in reforms, but also, last but not least, to protect investments. In fact, the money will go towards investments in infrastructure, hospitals, digitalization, green energy and the modernization of the administration. The document is to be published on the Commission’s website, a stage that will also be followed by a formal approval at the November Ecofin meeting.
Magistrates’ pensions, a case for discord
The Constitutional Court of Romania rejected, on Monday, the reform of the special pensions of magistrates, which mainly aims to increase the retirement age of judges and prosecutors, as well as reduce their pension from 100% to 70% of the net income from the last month of activity. The CCR had already postponed the verdict twice, after being notified by the High Court of Cassation and Justice, which harshly criticized the document and claimed dozens of violations of the Constitution. The government included the special pension reform law in the second package of fiscal measures aimed at reducing the deficit, and it also represented a milestone assumed in the NRRP. The European Commission drew Bucharest’s attention that, by November 28, it must complete the reform of magistrates’ pensions, part of payment request number 3 within the NRRP. Otherwise, the Commission will make a decision regarding the suspension of the payment of the respective tranche of funds. The CCR decision generated tensions in the ruling coalition in Romania. The NLP argues that the Court’s motivation must be awaited to determine the next step. The USR would like a referendum to change the Constitution, if there is no other way to solve the problem. The SDP advocates for the creation of a working group to draft a new bill that the CCR will no longer reject.
Some Romanians once again at the polls
The Bucharest government adopted, on Thursday, a decision regarding the organization of partial local elections for the general mayor of the Capital, for the president of the Buzău County Council (southeast) and for the mayors of 12 other localities in the country. The partial local elections will take place on Sunday, December 7, and the electoral period will begin on November 2. The decision to organize this election was previously agreed upon in the governing coalition, after long and contradictory discussions. In the elections for the Bucharest City Hall, all four parties in power decided to present their own candidates. The future mayor, elected in a single round, will succeed Nicușor Dan, who was voted president of Romania in May.
Sabotage attempt foiled
The authorities in Romania and Poland have dismantled a network of saboteurs coordinated by the Russian secret services. Three Ukrainian citizens have been arrested for trying to send explosive packages to their country. Two of them were detained and remanded in custody in Romania after leaving such packages at the Bucharest headquarters of an international courier company operating in Ukraine. The company is Nova Post, the Romanian Intelligence Service said. According to it, the aim was to reduce the support given to Ukraine by the two neighboring countries, in this case by attempting to damage the most extensive Ukrainian courier infrastructure, which ensures the connection of millions of Ukrainians who have left the country with those at home.
Disaster in a Bucharest neighborhood
3 people died, 15 were injured and entire families were left homeless, last Friday, in an explosion in an apartment building in a neighborhood of the Capital. Two floors were completely destroyed, and the entire building was severely damaged. The explosion also affected a high school, as well as other nearby residential buildings. From the initial investigation by the authorities, which continued this week, it is possible that a short circuit in an underground electrical cable led to the cracking of the neighboring gas pipeline that supplied the block of flats, although the legislation prohibits the placement of such elements in the same space, precisely to prevent the risk of explosion. In the meantime, solutions are being sought to accommodate the families left homeless. According to the interim mayor of the capital, Stelian Bujduveanu, 12 families have been relocated to other apartments in the medium and long term, while 148 people are accommodated in hotel rooms, where they will stay as long as necessary. Lack of money for current expenses, loss of personal documents and emotional shock are also some of the problems faced by those who suffered from the terrible explosion.
