The European Commission has concluded that Romania's €250 million (RON 1.25 billion) recapitalisation of the majority state-owned Exim Banca Romaneasca does not constitute State aid within the meaning of EU State aid rules. In September 2024, Romania informed the Commission of its intention to recapitalise Exim Banca Romaneasca. The primary goals were to increase lending volumes, develop synergies between retail and corporate activities, optimise internal processes, and improve the structure of financing sources. Romania submitted a business plan covering the period 2025–2032 and a report on the 'private investor test' conducted in connection with the planned capital increase. The Commission evaluated these documents. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules and found that Romania's recapitalisation of Exim Banca Romaneasca does not constitute State aid. EU State aid rules specify that if a Member State acts as a private investor would and is compensated for the risk in a way acceptable to a prudent private investor, the intervention does not constitute State aid. The Commission's assessment of Romania's business plan for Exim Banca Romaneasca showed that the €250 million capital injection would provide returns consistent with market conditions for the Romanian State, which is Exim Banca Romaneasca's majority shareholder. The business plan forecasts an increased market share in lending and deposits, improved efficiency, and robust capital levels. The non-confidential version of this decision will be made available under the case number SA.115897 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
A new CURS poll published on Sunday, June 29, shows that if local elections were held in Bucharest next Sunday, reformist party USR would obtain 27%, followed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) with 22%, and far-right party Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) with 18%. The National Liberal Party (PNL) comes in fourth, […]
Last week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest indicted three individuals for an EUR 100 million fraud in a case involving both EU and national funds. Among those indicted is an Italian citizen, alleged to be the leader of the group, which operated between 2019 and 2024. The suspect was detained on February […]
The number of building permits for residential buildings increased by 0.6% in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with 14,134 such permits issued, according to data published Monday by the National Institute of Statistics. Increases were recorded in the Western region (+166 permits), Center (+70), North-West (+68), South-East […]
Cluj-Napoca, a major city in Romania’s Transylvania region, is taking a step toward becoming a more animal-friendly city, as a new proposal allowing pets in public institutions has been opened for public debate. Mayor Emil Boc announced the initiative, stating, “A city that is friendly to animals is a better city for people.” The draft […]
The president of S.O.S. Romania, Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă, announced on Monday, June 30, that three senators were expelled from the party, effectively disbanding the party’s group in the Senate. According to the Romanian Parliament’s regulations, a party must have more than seven members to establish a group in the Senate. With the expulsion of the […]
Chinese social media platform TikTok has reportedly opened a branch in Romania, following public criticism, along with governmental and EU-level scrutiny, after Romania’s last presidential elections. The local company is called Tik Tok Romania, has a share capital of RON 5,000, and provides other IT-related service activities. It will be managed by Laura Andreea Savu, […]
