June 27, 2025

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 27.06.2025, 13:45

SUMMIT – Romanian President Nicuşor Dan attended the European Council in Brussels, where he discussed Romania’s plan to reduce its budget deficit, the delays in projects financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and Moldova’s accession to the EU. At the meetings with the European Council President Antonio Costa and the leader of the European Commission, and Ursula von der Leyen, President Dan said that Romania wants to gain the trust of the European institutions regarding the seriousness of the government in Bucharest and estimated that the first set of actions aimed at reducing the record budget deficit will be presented to the Commission on July 8. As for the main topics addressed Thursday at the European Council, the member states extended the sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine by 6 months and began drawing up plans for the development of the European defense industry, in the context of the security risks generated by the Kremlin’s aggressive policy. In turn, Romania reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s security and for its accession, and that of the Republic of Moldova, to the EU.

ECONOMY – The capping of the VAT for basic foods will be extended in Romania by three months, until September 30. According to a draft emergency ordinance published on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, the measure taken in August 2023 to combat excessive price increases, targets 14 groups of food products: plain white bread, bulk cow’s milk and cheese, plain cow’s milk yogurt, white wheat flour, cornmeal, eggs, sunflower oil, fresh chicken and pork meat, bulk fresh vegetables and fruits, potatoes, sugar, sour cream, butter and mayonnaise. According to the Government, failure to urgently adopt these measures may result in the influx of agricultural products from neighboring Ukraine, market distortion and large stocks risking degradation.

VISIT – The Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Mircea Abrudean, is on an official visit to Japan. He participated in the official ceremony celebrating Romania’s National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, where he delivered a speech in the presence of several representatives of the Japanese authorities and the diplomatic corps. “Expo 2025 Osaka is a clear opportunity to raise Japan’s investments in Romania to the level of our Strategic Partnership. (…) By representing Romania, today, here, at the highest parliamentary level, we are sending a clear signal regarding the openness towards a consolidated partnership with Japan, at a key moment for the economic and diplomatic repositioning in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Mircea Abrudean. The Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry staged an Economic Forum that brought together over 150 Romanian and Japanese specialists and officials, local authorities, civil society organizations and entrepreneurs. The talks focused on facilitating direct connections between Romanian companies and relevant Japanese partners, aiming to promote investment opportunities in areas such as IT&C, infrastructure, innovative technologies, agri-food industry and green energy. Over 160 countries and international organizations participate in Expo 2025.

MEASURES – The Bucharest government is preparing to adopt a package of fiscal measures today, to reduce the budget deficit. It considers eliminating or reducing certain bonuses, such as limiting the bonus for dangerous or harmful conditions to the equivalent of about 60 euros per month. Resetting VAT rates, increasing excise duties and applying the social health insurance contribution to pensions higher than 4,000 lei are among the measures. Also in today’s meeting, the executive wants to adopt financial support for vulnerable consumers, given that, on July 1, the cap on energy prices expires.

PROTEST – Romanian students protested on Thursday in Bucharest and other major university centers, unhappy with the government’s initiative to change the way scholarships are calculated, which will lead to a decrease in their fund. Students claim that scholarships are already insufficient for a proper living standard and academic results, and the measure would lead to an increase in the school dropout rate, which already exceeds 40%. The Ministry of Education argues, in response, that there is no money and that the scholarship system must be reviewed.

FOOTBALL – The Dutch national team won, for the first time, the European Under-19 Football Championship, hosted this year by Romania, after defeating Spain, the holder of the trophy, 1-0, on Thursday evening, in the final held in Bucharest. The Netherlands became the second nation, after Germany, to win all competitions organized by UEFA for national teams, for men and women – EURO, EURO U21, EURO U19 and EURO U17. The coach of the Dutch team, Peter van der Veen, previously also won the continental title at Under-17 (2019). The Netherlands won all five matches at the European Under-19, in the semi-finals, winning 3-1 against Romania. (EE)