Romania
Poll shows narrowing gap between Simion and Dan ahead of Romanian presidential runoff
Result of the May 18 runoff could hinge on turnout and the mobilisation of undecided voters.
Romania's Interior Minister Predoiu appointed interim prime minister
Predoiu takes over as interim PM but leading presidential candidate George Simion says he will install far-right politician Calin Georgescu in the position if he wins May 18 runoff.
UK insect numbers plummet by two thirds in three years, Bugs Matter survey shows
The population of flying insects in the United Kingdom has fallen by two thirds in just three years, according to new findings from a nationwide “Bugs Matter” citizen survey, raising alarm among ecologists and conservation groups.
Romania’s PM Ciolacu resigns
Political instability looms as no new government expected until presidential election runoff between far-right George Simion and pro-EU reformer Nicusur Dan.
Post-war order teetering – rights watchdog
Eurasia “at forefront” of assault on individual freedoms.
George Simion takes decisive lead in Romanian presidential election first round
AUR leader Simion took over 40% of the vote in the first round, giving him a strong chance of victory in the runoff.
Press freedom declines sharply in several Balkan countries
Declines reported in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania in the latest global ranking from Reporters Without Borders.
Romanian nationalist politician Simion is strong frontrunner in presidential election first round
A win for AUR leader George Simion could lead to political instability and alter Romania’s stance on regional issues, including the war in Ukraine.
Far-right candidate leads Romania presidential race as mainstream rivals battle for runoff spot
AUR leader George Simion tops the polls ahead of Romania’s May 4 presidential election first round.
EU swaps China for Russia in procurement of rare earth metals
The EU is increasingly turning to China to source hard-to-find rare earth metals and dropping previous import deals with Russia.
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
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Romania to invest €2.5bn in Black Sea airbase with or without US support
The expanded Mihail Kogălniceanu base is expected to become one of Nato's most strategically important military installations.
Romania’s High Court rejects appeal to resume annulled presidential elections
Far-right politician Calin Georgescu won the first round of the election that was annulled in December 2024, but has been barred from standing in the May 2025 re-run due to his extremist views.
Far-right candidate George Simion leads poll ahead of Romanian presidential election
Simion set to lose in the second round to either of his main challengers, but the race for second place is tightening.
Incoming German government compromises on carbon offsets to boost flagging economy
Germany’s incoming government has conditionally endorsed the European Union’s proposed 2040 climate goal and backed the EC's recommended 90% emissions reduction target but only if international carbon offsets and carbon removals are permitted.
World Bank cuts Romania's growth forecast to lowest in the region for 2025 and 2026
The World Bank has sharply revised downward its economic growth projections for Romania, now expecting GDP to grow by just 1.3% in 2025 and 1.9% in 2026.
Romania's public deficit reaches new record in 2024
Romania posted the widest general government budget deficit among EU member states at 9.3% of GDP, nearly three times the EU average.
How Europe has weaned itself off Russian gas in the last three years
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were wholly independent of Russian gas.
COMMENT: Make no mistake: Trump’s tariff turmoil is a major economic crisis
A wave of erratic tariff announcements from the United States has further battered already the already weak Eurozone economic indicators, with last week's sharp decline in the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index collapsing further.
Romania braces for Easter electricity oversupply driven by prosumers and renewables
If Easter Sunday is sunny, Romania will experience very high production of solar energy and extremely low electricity consumption.