October 24, 2025 UPDATE (1)
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 24.10.2025, 18:44
SUMMIT – EU leaders convened in Brussels, asking the Commission to analyze, by the next summit in December, ways of financing Ukraine over the next two years, leaving open the possibility of establishing a loan based on frozen Russian assets. The deliberately vague wording takes into account the reservations of several member states, but especially Belgium, where most of these funds are located. The president of the Council, Antonio Costa, however, gave assurances that Ukraine will have the financial resources it needs to defend itself from Russian aggression. A new package of sanctions was adopted against Russia, targeting its energy and financial sectors, and EU leaders also reported progress on deciding on the four joint defense projects, to which Romania will also contribute.
VISIT – EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen, will pay a visit to Romania on Monday, to participate in the ministerial meeting of the High-Level Group on Energy Connectivity in Central and South-Eastern Europe, organized by the European Commission and the Romanian Energy Ministry, Romanian authorities have announced. During this event, talks will focus on achieving the REPowerEU objectives in the context of advancing negotiations at EU level on the gradual elimination of fossile fuel imports from Russia. Talks will also tackle ways of accelerating energy infrastructure and connectivity projects, as well as of reducing energy prices. During his visit to Romania, the EU official will meet with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, Energy Minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, the president of the National Energy Regulatory Authority George Niculescu, and the General Manager of the national gas transmission system operator Transgaz Ion Sterian. (VP)
