The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Ia?i (Romania) has brought charges against three individuals and five companies for aggravated subsidy fraud and money laundering, following an investigation into an IT project, with an estimated damage of €1 million. Two of the suspects referred to the court of Ia?i remain in pre-trial detention. At issue is a company that requested non-repayable EU funds of up to €2 million (RON 10 953 924), for an IT project for the development of innovative software solutions (Innovative Platform for Rapid and Secure Financial Transactions – PIST). According to the investigation, between 2020 and 2022, the beneficiary of the project submitted false or inaccurate documents for services and goods that were never delivered or purchased, as well as employment contracts for persons who were not actually employed – thus unduly obtaining funds from the EU budget of €1 million. It is understood that these funds, paid out by Romania’s Ministry of Investment and European Projects, were subject to money laundering through domestic and international financial circuits, using shell companies registered in Bulgaria and Spain, and bank accounts in Belgium and Lithuania. According to the evidence, the shares of the Romanian-registered companies suspected of the criminal activities were transferred to Moldovan citizens and to citizens in Italy, in order to prevent potential investigations. Under Romania’s Criminal Code, aggravated subsidy fraud is punishable with up to ten-and-a-half years of imprisonment, and up to ten years for money laundering. The five companies indicted, if convicted, could face fines of up to approximately €420 000 (RON 2 100 000), to which complementary penalties may be added. Earlier in this investigation, in May 2024, three other suspects admitted their guilt and signed plea bargaining agreements, which were submitted to the Ia?i Tribunal. In order to recover the damage to the EU budget and any judicial expenses, the EPPO has seized three apartments and two plots of land with a combined worth of approximately €500 000, and has frozen all bank accounts held by the suspects and their companies. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Romanian courts of law. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It?is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU. (Source: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/)
Bucharest City Hall has begun installing modern cooling stations across the city to help pedestrians cope with rising summer temperatures. In partnership with Apa Nova București, the municipality has introduced a pilot project that will see six misting installations placed in high-traffic areas of the capital. The first cooling station has already been installed in […]
More than half of Romanians believe the country’s international representation will improve during the presidency of Nicușor Dan, according to the latest Barometrul Informat.ro – INSCOP Research survey conducted...
As the academic year winds down, Cambridge School of Bucharest community came together for one of its most beloved traditions: the annual Summer Fair. This year’s event was even more special, as it marked the 30-year anniversary of the school. What began as a modest educational institution has, over the decades, flourished into one of […]
The president of Romania, Nicușor Dan, took part in the first trilateral high-level meeting between Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine on the sidelines of the Ukraine – Southeast Europe summit in Odessa. During the meeting, he talked with counterparts Volodymyr Zelensky and Maia Sandu about energy and logistics interconnections, cross-border connectivity, security and combating hybrid […]
In the world of the Umbrella Society, weather is never mere background—it's a performance, and all umbrellas are protagonists. Imagine a whole city where the parasol is no longer an accessory, but part of the self. Some umbrellas predict moods, others chatter gossip to their users, and a few are likely the highest class, can […]
The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has explained that the legal obligation to publish asset and interest declarations on the website of the National Integrity Agency (ANI) violates the right to private life, according to the reasoning of a decision published on June 11. The decision was issued on May 29 and prompted protests from […]
