January 8, 2025
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 08.01.2025, 13:55
Government. The leaders of the governing coalition in Romania have gathered today to discuss the date of the presidential elections and the joint candidate of the PSD-PNL-UDMR alliance. Debates are also expected on the 2025 state budget, which the authorities want to adopt by the end of this month. The Minister of Finance, Tánczos Barna, has stated that the draft budget will observe the deficit cap of 7% of the GDP, without new tax increases, but through a more rigorous control of public spending. On the other hand, the unions have called on the Ombudsman to appeal at the Constitutional Court the article in the recent emergency ordinance that provides for the freezing of pension indexation. The ordinance, which came into force on January 1, also provides for the freezing of salaries, the elimination of some tax benefits and the restriction of certain benefits.
OMV. The Austrians from OMV have concluded an agreement with the German utility group Uniper regarding the supply of natural gas under the Romanian “Neptun Deep” project in the Black Sea, as of 2027, Reuters reports. The deal comes after Russia stopped delivering gas through Ukraine on January 1, as well as a wider reduction in the European Union’s energy purchases from Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. In the “Neptun Deep” area there are reserves of gas estimated at approximately 100 billion cubic meters, which makes it one of the most important extraction area in the EU. OMV and the Romanian state producer Romgaz own equal shares of the “Neptune Deep”. In total, Romania’s territorial waters of the Black Sea are said to host reserves of approximately 200 billion cubic meters of gas.
US Visas. Romania’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program will be officially marked on Friday, January 10, through an event organized in Washington D.C. The US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and the Ambassador of Bucharest to Washington, Andrei Muraru, will meet to record Romania’s joining the US visa waiver program. The technical details and the effective activation date of the new travel regime will also be communicated. Romanian citizens will no longer have to hold interviews at the American Consulate, as the travel authorization that replaces the current visas will be valid for two years, with an unlimited number of entries or exits from the United States. The authorization can be used for visits of up to 90 days, the cost being 21 US dollars – it is stated in the announcement published on the Facebook page of the Romanian Embassy in Washington.
Energy. The liberalization of the energy market as of April 1, together with appropriate preparation while there is still time, is the only option for Romania – claims the president of the NGO Asociaţia Energia Inteligentă (Smart Energy Association), Dumitru Chiseliţă. In his opinion, the biggest challenge of the year is related to the fact that on March 31 the current capping and compensation scheme for natural gas and electricity prices will expire. Chiseliţă believes that an extension of this measure involves large expenses from the state budget, with the payment of compensations to suppliers. In addition, he mentions Romania’s commitments to the European Union for market liberalization, appreciating that a possible continuation of the ceiling will lead to a decrease in community funds, which Bucharest cannot afford.
Speed control. At the beginning of the year, the Romanian police are installing fixed speed cameras on dozens of roads in Romania. They will work permanently, and drivers who exceed the speed limit will receive the fine at home. The aim is to increase road safety and reduce the number of accidents, given that speed is the second most frequent cause of serious accidents, after irregular pedestrian crossings. The increase in the gross minimum wage also determined the increase in the fine point. Thus, the smallest fines start from 405 lei (about 80 euros) and can reach over 20,000 lei (the equivalent of about 4 thousand euros).
Tennis. Romanian tennis players Anca Todoni and Gabriela Ruse managed to reach, today, in Melbourne, the last round of the women’s singles qualifiers at the Australian Open tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, which will start on Monday, January 12. Anca Todoni won 6-3, 6-2 against the Spanish player Leyre Romero Gormaz, and Gabriela Ruse defeated the German Anna-Lena Friedsam 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Three Romanians will directly enter the main singles draw at the Australian Open – Sorana Cîrstea, Jaqueline Cristian and Irina Begu. (MI)
