June 27, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 27.06.2025, 20:00
GOVERNMENT Romania’s PM Ilie Bolojan said on Friday that the set of measures to reduce the budget deficit will be announced next week. He emphasised that Romania is in a difficult economic situation, as a result of chronic budget deficits in recent years, the largest of which was recorded last year. “Since we cannot cover in a short term this EUR 30 billion deficit between public spending and revenues, we will have to take out loans in the coming period as well,” the PM explained. He also said that, for Romania, it is very important and urgent to solve two problems: on the one hand, addressing the budget deficit issue, and on the other hand, accessing EU funds. Bolojan mentioned that as far as the deficit goes, Romania needs to increase revenues and cut expenditure.
TAX EVASION Tax evasion is on the agenda of the first meeting of the Supreme Defence Council convened by president Nicuşor Dan. The meeting takes place on Monday in Bucharest, and the head of state is expecting a briefing on the topic of tax evasion, seen as a threat and risk to national security. The implications for the community and the environment of May’s floods at the Praid Salt Mine in Harghita County, as well as the National Cyber Security Directorate’s activity last year and its main goals for this year, will also be analysed. The agenda also includes developments and the prospects of the conflict in Ukraine and its implications for Romania. The troops and equipment that may participate in missions abroad next year will also be reviewed.
VISIT The Romanian Senate Speaker Mircea Abrudean, who was on an official visit to Japan on June 25 through 28, on the occasion of Expo Osaka 2025, Friday had meetings with members of Japanese authorities and the business community, and with the leader of the House of Representatives of the Diet of Japan, Fukushiro Nukaga. According to a news release issued by the Senate, the Japanese official, who visited Romania in 1989 and has constantly monitored the developments in the country since then, sent a message of encouragement, emphasising that “Romania must rely on Japan in a useful way. Tell us how we can help. It is your time to shine.” During the meeting, Fukushiro Nukaga’s contribution to the bilateral Strategic Partnership was highlighted. The Romanian side invited him to make a visit to Bucharest, in order to identify ways to bring the Romanian-Japanese parliamentary cooperation to the level of the Strategic Partnership, including through specialised forums dedicated to the fields of energy, innovation, education and economy.
PROTESTS The measures considered by the Romanian government to reduce budget expenditure brought people out on the streets again on Friday. Government employees protested against the PM’s plan to lower the bonus for harmful or dangerous working conditions. In turn, students picketed the education ministry over the announced downsize of the scholarship system, after on Thursday they protested the measure both in Bucharest and in the country’s main university centres.
FOOD The capon basic food price mark-ups has been extended in Romania by 3 months, until the end of September. The measure, taken in August 2023 to counter excessive price rises, targets 14 groups of food products, including bread, dairy products, flour, cornmeal, eggs, sunflower oil, fresh chicken and pork, fresh vegetables and fruits. According to the Government, failure to implement these measures immediately may result in an inflow of agrifood products from neighboring Ukraine, market distortion, the increase and deterioration of stocks, and may make it difficult for Romanian farmers to sell their produce.
SWIMMING The Romanian Olympic champion David Popovici won the bronze in the 50-meter freestyle event on Friday at the European Under-23 Swimming Championships in Samorin (Slovakia), timed at 21.86 seconds. The gold medal was won by Portugal’s Diogo Ribeiro, while the silver went to Ukraine’s Vladislav Buhov. On Thursday, David Popovici won the 200-meter freestyle event, while Denis-Laurean Popescu won the gold in the 100-meter butterfly. Romania brought a team of 13 athletes to the European Under-23 Swimming Championships hosted by Samorin between June 26 and 29. (AMP)
