The EC published today, 13 July, the latest Special Eurobarometer on Corruption, listing citizens’ perceptions and experiences, as well as the Flash Eurobarometer on the attitudes of businesses to corruption in the EU. Corruption remains a serious problem for EU citizens: 68 % of them believe that corruption is still widespread in their country. For 63 % of EU businesses, corruption is also a widespread problem in their country. 37 % of respondents believe that anti-corruption measures are applied impartially and without hidden purposes. 34 % of EU citizens believe that sufficient prosecutions are successful to discourage people from engaging in corruption practices and that their national government’s efforts to fight corruption are effective (31 %). And 31 % believe that transparency and control over the funding of political parties in their country is sufficient. Corruption remains a serious problem: 72% of respondents believe that, in Romania, corruption is still widespread (68% European average). For 88% of Romanian companies, corruption is also a widespread problem, with the EU average of 63%. 42% of respondents consider that, in Romania, anti-corruption measures are applied impartially and without hidden purposes (38% for EU-27). 37% of Romanian respondents believe that the government's efforts to combat corruption are effective (31% European average), and 40% believe that transparency and control over the financing of political parties in Romania are sufficient (31% EU-27 average). Eurobarometer surveys are an important source of information for the Commission’s assessments, including rule of law reports. Under the EU Rule of Law Mechanism, the Commission encourages the fight against corruption to promote a rule of law culture in all EU countries. The 2022 Rule of Law Report will, for the first time, contain specific recommendations addressed to Member States, in particular on the fight against corruption. In May, the Commission presented a proposal for a directive on asset recovery and confiscation to ensure that crime and corruption are not profitable, limiting the ability of criminals to commit new crimes. In addition, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is operational and has already blocked and confiscated assets from criminals worth several million euros.
Bucharest’s District 3 City Hall will once again organize a special New Year’s Eve event in Titan Park, with a program of live concerts, multimedia shows, and even a simulation of the Northern Lights. The event, set to begin at 8:00 PM on December 31, will focus on the theme of infinity. “If you missed […]
Traffic on Lot 1 of the A7 Ploiești-Buzău highway, stretching 21 kilometers in southern Romania, was officially opened on Monday, December 23. With this opening, 102 kilometers of the total 320 kilometers of the highway are now usable. The Moldova Highway, as it has been called, is meant to connect Romania's economically underdeveloped eastern regions to […]
The Dutch technology investor Prosus NV, also the majority shareholder of Romania’s largest online retailer eMAG, is set to buy the online travel agency Despegar.com Corp, focused on Latin America, for approximately USD 1.7 billion. The purchase consideration will be funded from existing cash resources, the company said. Founded in Argentina in 1999, Despegar is one […]
The new Forestry Code, which passed the Parliament vote on December 17 and was signed into law by president Klaus Iohannis on December 20, includes provisions that protect all forests in Ilfov, the county surrounding Bucharest, making them the cornerstone of the future green belt around the capital city. Moreover, it legislates green belts nationwide, […]
Bucharest’s Police will be equipped with 100 state-of-the-art drug detection devices as part of a new initiative by the Capital City Hall, mayor Nicușor Dan announced. The acquisition has been completed, and the first 50 units have already been delivered to the authorities. According to mayor Dan, the devices, equipped with cutting-edge technology, can detect […]
Hotel International Băile Felix, in western Romania, will enter the Mercure brand after a franchise contract with French multinational hospitality Accor. According to the managing company behind the hotel, the publicly-traded Tourism Felix SA (TUFE), the approval of the franchise contract by the company's Board of Directors represents an essential first step towards sustainable development. […]
