February 13, 2025 UPDATE 3
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 13.02.2025, 20:00
GOVERNMENT – The Cabinet led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Thursday approved two decisions regarding the prioritization of projects included in the ‘Anghel Saligny’ National Investment Program and in the program carried out by the National Investment Company (CNI). At the same time, the extension of the free zone in the Port of Constanta (southeast), on the Black Sea, was on the agenda of the Government meeting. The government thus seeks to stimulate the economic development of the region and improve trade flows in this area. Also on Thursday, new measures were adopted that support the reorganization of the National Anti-Drug Agency. On the other hand, Marcel Ciolacu announced that the ruling coalition has decided to provide financial support worth €160 to pensioners with low incomes. This aid will benefit approximately 2.5 million pensioners with incomes of up to €515, tantamount to the national minimum wage. The aid will be granted in two installments, in April and in the second half of the year. In the context of the latest price hikes, this measure will help maintain a minimum level of social protection for the elderly. The aid is intended to compensate for the increase in living costs and to provide essential financial support for pensioners. We recall that, earlier this year, the government decided not to raise pensions in line with the inflation rate, as planned, a move that generated society-wide dissatisfaction.
REPORT – Romania, along with other European states, was last year targeted by “sabotage” actions specific to the hybrid techniques used by the Russian Federation, the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism warns in its annual report. The attacks were designed to test the defense readiness of NATO countries and find weaknesses in their infrastructure. In turn, drug consumption has reported a steady increase in recent years. Cannabis remains the most sought-after drug in Romania, also accounting for the highest volumes seized by the authorities.
DRONE – The surveillance and monitoring systems of the Defense Ministry on Wednesday night picked up an air target flying into Romania’s airspace for nearly one kilometer on its way to Ukraine. Authorities immediately conveyed an emergency service alert to notify the population in the area and scrambled two F-16s belonging to Romania’s Air Force and two Eurofighter jets operated by the Spanish Air Forces. The same sources have also reported a possible impact on the national soil close to the Ukrainian border, without any material damages. In turn, the president of the neighboring Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, said that two Russian drones illegally entered the air space of Moldova and exploded on the ground. No citizens were put at risk. Sources close to the Ukrainian army announced that Russia attacked Ukraine with 140 drones on Wednesday night.
NATO – The meeting of NATO defense ministers continued on Thursday in Brussels, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had started talking with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, about peace in Ukraine. In turn, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said that Kyiv’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance is an unrealistic option. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, European allies were taken by surprise by the news of the Trump-Putin telephone conversation, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte insisted on the idea of lasting peace. He said that the leaders of NATO member states never promised Ukraine it would become a NATO member if it concluded a peace agreement with Russia. On the other hand, Mark Rutte is asking allies who have not increased their defense budgets above 2% to do so by this summer. The NATO Secretary General suggested he might ask for an increase in defense contributions to 3% of GDP at the upcoming NATO summit. Increasing military spending, expanding the capabilities of the defense industry and the war in Ukraine were the main topics of discussion on the agenda of the NATO Defense Ministers meeting.
MSC 2025 – Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu will take part in the 61st edition of the Munich Security Conference (MSC 2025), held over Friday-Sunday. According to the Romanian MFA, the meeting will address current security threats and challenges in the political, economic, commercial and technological fields. In the panels, Emil Hurezeanu will present Romania’s assessments of current challenges, with a focus on the deterioration of the security climate in the Black Sea region and the implications of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine for the security of Euro-Atlantic space. At the same time, Minister Hurezeanu will emphasize the threat of Russia’s hybrid actions and the importance of countering them. On the other hand, the Romanian official will highlight the importance of a more robust transatlantic relationship in managing these challenges and combating the threats facing the Euro-Atlantic community, and will underline the importance of continuing to provide robust support for increasing the resilience of the Republic of Moldova. On the sidelines of the Conference, Emil Hurezeanu will hold bilateral talks with counterparts and political figures from Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa.
PEACE PLAN – The peace process in Ukraine has been launched, U.S. President Donald Trump said, without giving further details, after telephone conversations with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It was the first discussion between an American president and Vladimir Putin in almost three years, given that, after the invasion of Ukraine and the emergence of information regarding war crimes committed by Russian troops, former President Joe Biden refused to talk to the Kremlin leader. In turn, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said that Ukraine cannot return to previous its borders or join NATO. To Kyiv, the liberation of all Russian-held territories and NATO accession are key priorities. At the same time, the European Union has demanded firm security guarantees for Ukraine.
EURONEXT – Euronext, the number one pan-European grain stock market, is due to open a branch in Romania, in Constanța. The port on the Romanian Black Sea coast is expected to become a reference point for grain prices in the Black Sea basin, and Romanian farmers and those from neighboring countries will be able to deliver their goods under optimal conditions. Euronext trade flows for corn might open by the end of the year, while those for wheat starting next year. (DB & VP)
