April 15, 2025 UPDATE (2)
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 15.04.2025, 20:00
US DELEGATION – A delegation of eight members of US Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, met with Romanian senators and deputies in Bucharest on Tuesday. The US delegation was accompanied by the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec. Talks focused on aspects specific to parliamentary diplomacy, whereas the annulment of last year’s presidential election was approached as “a free discussion about the political situation in Romania”, the Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Daniel Suciu, said. Previously, US congressmen held talks with interim president Ilie Bolojan and expressed satisfaction with his clarifications regarding the annulment of the 2024 presidential election. According to political sources, talks were “extremely good, friendly, beyond classic diplomacy”, and Washington representatives “showed a warm and open attitude”. The eight representatives of the American Congress emphasized that the US strategic military policy remains “unchanged”. American officials said they want to continue to strengthen the strategic partnership between the USA and Romania, political sources also say. At the same time, American officials said they will support the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver Program. With regard to Ukraine, US congressmen hailed Romania’s position and showed that they understand the sensitive topics specific to the Eastern Flank. Also on Tuesday, the US delegation met with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
DRUG ABUSE – The Romanian Senate has adopted a legislative proposal to amend the Criminal Code regarding sanctions applied to people who drive under the influence of drugs or other psychoactive substances. Prescription drugs do not fall under the incidence of this law. People found driving under the influence will be subject to prison sentences of up to 5 years.
LEGISLATION – The Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) in Romania issued a negative opinion on Tuesday regarding the draft law currently under debate in the Chamber of Deputies aimed at modifying magistrates’ pensions. Initiated by the leaders of the ruling coalition, the document stipulates that, starting January 1, 2026, judges, prosecutors, Constitutional Court judges, deputy magistrates of the High Court of Cassation and Justice and of the Constitutional Court, as well as all legal personnel can retire and benefit from the service pension if they meet the condition of having served a minimum of 25 years in these positions, as well as having a minimum age of 48 years. The document also stipulates a spaced-out increase in the retirement age for magistrates to 65 by 2045. The Council says that this legislative proposal has the potential to seriously undermine the functioning of the judicial system in the short and long term, mainly by affecting human resources in both quantitative and qualitative terms.
ARREST – On Tuesday, the Dutch police have arrested a fifth suspect in the investigation into the art heist at the Drents Museum in Assen. The 36-year-old man was arrested from a home in his hometown of Alkmaar, police say, adding that the stolen artifacts are yet to be found. The suspect is not the individual appearing in CCTV images from a DIY store in Assen, but he became a person of interest during the investigation. Three of the other four suspects are also in custody. We recall that the thieves set off an explosion at the Drents Museum in Assen on January 25 and stole three Dacian bracelets and a gold helmet, which were on display in an exhibition with over 500 items loaned by Romania.
EUROSTAT – Around 197.6 million people of working age (20-64 years) in the European Union were employed in 2024, accounting for an employment rate of 75.8%, the highest level recorded since statistical data has been collected, Eurostat reports. In the case of the EU, the employment rate increased by 0.5% compared to 2023. Among member states, the highest employment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (83.5%), Malta (83%) and Czechia (82.3%). At the opposite pole, the lowest employment rates among the working-age population were recorded in Italy (67.1%), Greece (69.3%) and Romania (69.5%), according to data published on Tuesday.
FOOTBALL – Romania’s national football team has been drawn in Group A, alongside Denmark, Spain and Montenegro, at the European Under-19 Football Championship, which will take place in Romania over June 13-26. Germany, Norway, England and the Netherlands will compete in Group B. The top two teams from each group will qualify to the final four. Romania has previously hosted the European Under-21 Championship in 2011, when it finished last in Group A. Spain won the title at the time. (VP)
