Finance Minister Tanczos Barna is attending his first ECOFIN Council meeting, which will address a number of key topics for EU economic and financial policy, with a focus on competitiveness, regulation, economic governance and support for economic recovery. Member states are also expected to endorse the Council’s recommendations on Romania’s medium-term budgetary and structural plan.

“It is a huge opportunity for Romania that, as a result of the negotiations, we have a 7-year budget deficit adjustment period instead of 4 years. This smooth reduction of the deficit, at a slow speed that does not produce imbalances, allows the implementation of a massive investment budget. We need to provide predictability in the fiscal system, manage public finances efficiently, keep the running costs of the State and its institutions under control, and have a leaner State that works for the citizens. At the same time, by approving the Fiscal Plan, we eliminate the risk of suspending european funds. Thus, we will continue to invest in highways and roads, hospitals, schools, water and sewage systems and we will be able to maintain an economic growth trajectory“, wrote the Minister of Finance shortly after the ECOFIN meeting.

Medium-term plans are the foundation of the new economic governance framework. Integrating budgetary, reform and investment objectives into a single medium-term plan creates a coherent and streamlined process.

Read also: European Semester: European Commission approves Romania’s medium-term plan. It “sets out a credible budgetary path”

• Romania’s medium-term plan assessed positively by the European Commission. The European executive considers that Romania’s plan meets the requirements of the new framework, setting a credible budgetary path to ensure that our country’s debt is placed on a sustainable downward trajectory or maintained at prudent levels.
• The European Commission has assessed that the measures included by our country in the medium-term plan met the criteria to justify an extension of the budget deficit adjustment period from four to seven years.

European Union economy and finance ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday, January 21, for the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), under the Polish presidency of the EU Council.

The Council is expected to adopt recommendations regarding medium-term fiscal-structural plans in the context of the implementation of the economic governance framework.

The Council is also expected to adopt recommendations for member states that are currently under an excessive deficit procedure to take effective action to correct their deficit within a given time period.

Calea Europeană expresses solidarity with journalists attacked by representatives of extremist forces in the Romanian Parliament and calls on Romanian state institutions to safeguard press freedom, emphasizing their duty to uphold democratic values and the rule of law in a country that is a member of the European Union and NATO.

The acts of aggression against journalists, including colleagues from Antena 3 CNN and Euronews Romania, represent a direct attack on press freedom, one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. In the context of Romania’s EU and NATO membership, such incidents not only undermine democratic values but also harm the country’s international reputation.

Press freedom is a right enshrined in Romania’s Constitution and an essential principle of the rule of law that must be prioritized for protection. Extremist actions occurring in a space dedicated to democracy, such as Parliament, raise serious concerns about tolerance for radical discourse and the dangers it poses to society. In this regard, Calea Europeană urges Romanian state institutions to implement strict measures to prevent similar incidents and to hold perpetrators accountable.

In the spirit of democratic values, Calea Europeană reaffirms the importance of a free and independent press, which is essential for the functioning of genuine democracy.

Without press freedom, there is no democracy!

The National Institute for Scientific Research on Labour and Social Protection (INCSMPS) as a partner in the self-Learn project, a project co-funded by the European Union, is preparing for its finalization. Working together with partners from European countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Slovakia, Finland and beyond, the project coordinator being from Turkey, they have developed a digital learning tool, available both on the website and on the smartphone.

Therefore, the project has produced a freely available Android and iOS app that will help interested users to improve their literacy, numeracy and digital skills in a very flexible way. The self-Learn app is designed and created with a multicultural partnership to ensure its transparency and authenticity with the support of the European Commission through Erasmus+.

Self-Learn’s mobile accessibility is a game-changer for adult learners, especially those juggling work, family or other commitments that prevent them from attending traditional classes. By putting learning directly in their hands, Self-Learn tools allow adults to engage at their own pace and at their own convenience, removing many of the traditional barriers to education. Starting with a diagnostic test, learners can identify their current skill level and follow personalized learning pathways designed to meet their specific needs. This process not only addresses individual learners, but also allows educators to better understand their challenges and strengths, enabling more targeted teaching approaches.

In addition, Self-Learn incorporates family involvement, a feature that is often neglected in adult education. Self-Learn provides resources for family members to support the learner, fostering a more inclusive learning environment that extends beyond the individual and promotes a culture of lifelong learning at home.

The project’s impact extends beyond individual adult learners. By equipping them with essential skills, it contributes to wider societal goals, including reducing unemployment, increasing social inclusion, and boosting economic productivity.

In addition, the Self-Learn project has the potential for scalability. Although it currently focuses on low-skilled adults, the platform’s flexible design means that it can be adapted for a wide range of educational contexts, including young adults, migrants and people re-entering the labour market. This flexibility makes it a valuable resource for future projects in adult education, enabling educators to guide learners on their journey towards acquiring essential skills, helping them to thrive in an evolving, technology-driven world.