The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) is carrying out nine searches today in Mures County, in an investigation into a possible subsidy fraud involving projects for beekeeping and the processing of honey, financed by the EU. The searches are being conducted at the homes of four individuals and at the headquarters of companies under investigation. At issue are two projects worth €140 000 (RON 696 416) in non-reimbursable funds to support the purchase of beehives, bee colonies and the processing of honey, financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and managed by Romania’s Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR). One of the projects was meant to support young farmers and the other to develop existing bee farms. According to the investigation, a beekeeper colluded with three individuals who met the eligibility conditions for being beneficiaries, in order to submit an application in their names and obtain the funds for himself. The evidence also shows that the three individuals did not carry out the activities required to obtain the grant for existing bee farms. In order to create the appearance of such a farm, they are believed to have used beehives and equipment that belonged to the beekeeper. The investigation and searches counted on the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania – Cluj-Napoca EPPO Office (Structura de sprijin a procurorilor europeni delegati în Romania – Biroul Teritorial Cluj-Napoca), the Mures County Police Inspectorate – Economic Crime Investigation Service and Forensic Service (Inspectoratul de Politie Judetean Mures – Serviciul de investigare a criminalitatii economice si Serviciul Criminalistic) as well as the Targu Mures Special Operations Brigade (Brigada de Operatiuni Speciale) and the Romanian Gendarmerie (Jandarmeria Romana - Gruparea Mobila de Jandarmi Targu-Mures). All persons involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Romanian courts of law. The 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.
The merger between Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania and First Bank has entered its final stage and is scheduled for completion on October 31, pending all necessary legal and regulatory approvals, including from the National Bank. According to the two institutions, First Bank will merge by absorption with Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania, transferring its clients, products, […]
The Feldioara Uranium Concentrate Processing Plant (FPCU), owned by the state-owned company Nuclearelectrica, the operator of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, will deliver nuclear fuel in the form of uranium dioxide (UO2) to Argentina, a first for the Romanian nuclear industry. The Uranium Concentrate Processing Factory (FPCU) Feldioara, a subsidiary of Nuclearelectrica (BSE: SNN), won […]
Romania’s isolationist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) has consolidated its leading position with 40% of voting intentions, according to an INSCOP Research poll conducted between October 6 and 10. The party’s support remains more than double that of the second-placed Social Democratic Party (PSD), which registered 17.6%. The governing coalition parties - PSD […]
Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest in the ruling coalition, will hold its congress and implicitly elect a new president on November 7, announced the party's interim head, Sorin Grindeanu, who is at this moment the sole candidate for a full term, according to Ziarul Financiar. ...
The minister of investments and European projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, stated on October 13 that the milestone 215 in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) regarding special pensions has not been met and, therefore, the EUR 231 million funds have been suspended. He thus contradicted the Supreme Council of Magistracy (CSM) and defended prime minister […]
Recycllux is tackling marine plastic pollution with a platform connecting companies seeking to offset their plastic footprint with the local cleanup capacity. From the more than 400 million tonnes of plastic that are produced yearly worldwide, more than 10 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers, and seas annually, UN data shows. As awareness of […]
