March 30, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 30.03.2025, 19:12
DIASPORA. The Department for the Relation with Romanians Abroad has launched the Non-Reimbursable Financing Session for projects intended for Romanians abroad who wish to preserve their linguistic, cultural and spiritual identity. By April 30, all those who aim to get involved in supporting Romanian communities abroad, inspire the younger generations and promote Romanian values and traditions are expected to submit projects. Associations, foundations, religious institutions, non-governmental organizations of Romanians abroad, authorized individuals or legal entities under public or private law from Romania or abroad can submit funding applications and documents, according to the information in the 2025 Financing Guide, which can be consulted on the website of the Department for Romanians Abroad. This year’s edition includes six funding programs in Education, Culture, Spirituality and Tradition, Civil Society, Mass Media and Community.
PENSIONS. Almost 2.7 million Romanian pensioners with incomes of up to 2,574 lei (almost 520 euros) will receive in April half of the financial aid of 800 lei (about 160 euros) established by the Bucharest government for this year. The maximum pension level taken into account for granting the support represents the equivalent of the net minimum wage in the economy, and the second tranche will be granted in December. According to the Ministry of Labor, this aid is not taken into account either when establishing the ceiling regarding the approval of the program for the compensation of 90% of the reference price of medicines, or when granting the minimum inclusion income, or when granting treatment vouchers through the National House of Public Pensions. 86,000 Romanian pensioners living abroad will also benefit from the increase.
EMPLOYMENT. People looking for a job in Romania who are victims of domestic violence or human trafficking will be able to be hired more easily, according to a draft law adopted by Parliament. Also, people registered with employment agencies, who carry out activities in rural areas and do not earn a monthly income or earn less than the value of the social reference indicator in force, will benefit from free vocational training services. The law is also addressed to unemployed people over 45 years old, who are single parents supporting single-parent or long-term families, but also to young people who are not professionally employed and do not follow any educational program. According to the document, companies and institutions will receive incentives from the state worth 2,250 lei (approximately 450 euros), if they employ such people for a period of at least one and a half years.
DISEASE. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued warnings regarding the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The authorities have warned the traffic of trucks transporting sheep and goats from Hungary to Romania is prohibited. Also, the transport of milk as a raw material for which it cannot be proven that it comes from animals tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease in the last 24 hours. In the Czech Republic, the transport of animals or raw materials originating from them is allowed only through certain border points, and in Slovakia additional safety measures have been taken, such as the mandatory control of all vehicles coming from Hungary, transit only through certain border points and the installation of disinfection equipment.
INSOLVENCY. The number of commercial companies and authorized individuals in Romania that entered insolvency in January 2025 decreased by 24% compared to the same period last year, according to data published by the National Office of the Trade Register. Most insolvencies were registered in Bucharest and in the counties of Cluj (northwest), Timiş (west), Ilfov and Bihor (northwest). At the opposite end were Covasna (center), Giurgiu (south) and Suceava (northeast), where no insolvency cases were registered. The sectors targeted were wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, construction, manufacturing, transport, hotels and restaurants.
EARTHQUAKE. International teams are helping search and rescue efforts in Myanmar for people missing after Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake, among the largest to hit the Southeast Asian nation in a century. Myanmar’s military leaders allowed hundreds of foreign rescue workers into the country on Saturday after the quake struck the impoverished and war-torn country in recent years, killing more than 1,t00 people. The quake damaged airports, bridges and highways amid a civil war that has devastated the economy and displaced millions. The quake also killed dozens in Thailand, toppling a skyscraper under construction in the capital Bangkok. The BBC reports that a UN special rapporteur for Myanmar has condemned the continued army attacks in areas controlled by ethnic rebel groups and severely affected by the earthquake and called on the ruling junta to end military operations.
TENNIS. Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian will play the final of the WTA 125 tournament in Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), with total prizes of 115,000 dollars, after defeating the Swiss Rebeka Masarova, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5). In the final, the first-seed Jaqueline Cristian (26 years old, 72 WTA will face the Czech Linda Fruhvirtova (19 years old, 215 WTA). (MI)
