222 Portuguese soldiers from all three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces left Figo Maduro airport early this morning on a NATO mission to help bolster the ‘south-eastern flank’ of the Alliance in the context of the war in Ukraine, https://www.portugalresident.com/ informs. The ‘Força Nacional Destacada’ (Deployed National Force) of men and women was due to have taken part in a NATO ‘Tailored Forward Presence’ mission in Romania (which borders Ukraine) during the last three months of this year. Russia’s invasion however brought the plan forwards. The contingent’s mission involves ‘enhanced Vigilance Activities’ or eVA, which Portugal’s head of the Armed Forces Admiral Silva Ribeiro described as designed to “affirm the cohesion and determination of the Allies, and increase NATO’s readiness to dissuade a possible aggression on its territory”. The 222 include a ‘motorised infantry reinforced with Stinger anti air missiles, and a team of ‘special Ops’ forces. The military flew from Portugal to Greece, where they were reunited with dozens of armoured vehicles, including Pandurs and VAMTACs, transported ahead of them last week. The rest of the journey is being made overland, with the soldiers joining those of other countries in southern Romania, roughly 600 km from Odessa (Ukraine). President Marcelo, the minister of defence and a number of high-ranking military were at the send off at 6.30 this morning, with Prime Minister António Costa sending a message, in which he said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “requires a clear statement of NATO’s deterrent force”, as it is “a grave violation of international law”. “It cannot be repeated often enough: any possible aggression against a NATO-allied country is an aggression against all of us”, the PM added, stressing the ‘sense of duty’ in Portugal being involved in such a mission. President Marcelo made a point of shaking the hands of all the soldiers setting off today after a brief speech stressing the defensive role of Portuguese troops. “An alliance that does not attack is prepared to prevent, preserve and defend peace. This is also your mission”, he told them.
The Bucharest Municipal Parking Company (CMPB) inaugurated 189 new parking facilities with more than 12,400 spaces in the first half of 2025, while revenues from parking fees rose 20% year-on-year to RON 50.4 million (roughly EUR 10 million), the company said on Thursday, September 18. CMPB reported a net profit of RON 28.3 million for January–June […]
Romania has inaugurated underwater seagrass meadows and artificial reefs in the Black Sea as part of a major restoration project aimed at curbing erosion and reviving marine biodiversity, the National Administration “Apele Române” said. More than 20 hectares of seabed have already been planted with Zostera noltii seagrass and transplanted with Cystoseira barbata seaweed, creating […]
A former pastor from California has been accused of sexual abuse and child trafficking at a shelter he ran in Bucharest, according to lawsuits filed by two Romanian men in the California District Court, AP reported. The complaints, filed by 33-year-old Marian Barbu and 40-year-old Mihai-Constantin Petcu, reportedly say that former pastor and missionary of […]
Four cities, namely Bistrița, Deva, Oradea, and Tulcea, have submitted bids to become Romania’s Youth Capital in 2027, organizers announced after the first round of applications closed on September 15. The competition, inspired by the European Youth Capital program, highlights cities’ commitment to investing in young people and involving them in community life. “The fact […]
Revolut Bank UAB has appointed Florina Moisei as the new Country Manager of its Romanian branch. The digital bank has about 4.5 million users in the country. According to the company, Florina Moisei brings over 20 years of experience in the financial-banking sector, with a strong focus on risk management, operational efficiency, and business development. […]
Three projects coordinated by schools and institutions from Romania have been designated winners of the European Award for Innovative Teaching 2025, granted by the European Commission. The projects, designed by schools from Bucharest, Harghita, and Iaşi, tackle a range of issues. The awarded projects are: Rangers of Change, by Secondary School no. 195 from Bucharest […]
