Whistleblowers are an essential source of information for investigation and public prosecution services. The correct transposition and effective implementation of Directive (EU)2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (Whistleblowers’ protection Directive) therefore is of direct operational relevance for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. If you fail to protect whistleblowers, you limit detection. If you do not detect, you cannot investigate and prosecute. The European Chief Prosecutor has duly noted that on 29 June 2022, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies finally adopted a law aiming to transpose the Whistleblowers’ protection Directive. Based on the preliminary analysis of the law, and especially of the amendments made to the draft law on 28 June 2022, just before its adoption by the plenary, the European Chief Prosecutor is assessing whether some of these provisions would be contrary to the Whistleblowers’ protection Directive, and represent a step backwards with regard to the current level of protection, established under national law since 2004. The main point of concern is that this could have a chilling effect, discouraging potential whistleblowers in Romania and negatively affecting the level of detection of EU fraud. De facto, this would lead to a deterioration of the existing system ensuring the proper functioning of investigation and public prosecution services in relation to the investigation and prosecution of fraud, including tax fraud, corruption or other breaches of Union law relating to the implementation of the Union budget or to the protection of the financial interests of the Union. It is important to recall, in addition, that the EPPO has not yet received the nomination of 9 European Delegated Prosecutors from Romania and that there has been a considerable delay in granting the EPPO office in Romania an adequate number of judicial police officers in support of its operations. The European Chief Prosecutor is considering whether this persisting situation, combined with the latest developments would warrant a report to the European Commission in line with Recital 16 of Regulation (EU) 2020/2092 of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union Budget.
Rituals Cosmetics, the international brand specializing in natural body and skin care products, home fragrances and home apparel, is set to open its first store in Romania at the end of September. The company, founded in 2000 in Amsterdam, has become a globally recognized industry expert with a presence in over 36 countries. It offers […]
Here we go again, it is September, and everything is happening at once, everywhere. Most cinema premieres are planned for autumn, so are many film fests. The reason are manifold, from the end of vacation to how local financing for culture works. After having been screened at festivals or events (most recently The Long Night […]
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has pledged aid worth EUR 10 billion to help repair the damage caused by recent floods in Central and Eastern Europe, Romania included. She made the promise during a visit to the western Polish city of Wroclaw on Thursday, September 19. A massive wave of flooding has hit Central […]
Finnish company Nokian Tyres inaugurated its passenger car tire factory in Oradea, Romania, on September 19, a project with a total value of EUR 650 million. The new facility operates without utilizing any fossil energy, making it the world's first full-scale tire factory with zero CO2 emissions. The factory inauguration marks the completion of a […]
The judges of the High Court of Cassation and Justice decided on Friday, September 20, to send the case targeting the Romanian Revolution of 1989, in which former president Ion Iliescu faces charges of crimes against humanity, back to the Military Prosecutor's Office to correct certain irregularities in the indictment. On June 14, another Supreme […]
The ranking of the best-selling cars in Europe was led by Dacia Sandero in August, a particularly notable achievement given it occurred in a declining market. The Romanian-made model has been the leader since the beginning of the year, missing the top spot for only two months and ranking second instead during that time. On […]
