The Commission has decided to open infringement proceedings against Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Italy for failing to effectively remove from their legal orders the intra-EU Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to which they are contracting parties, so that they cease to produce any legal effects. It has been the Commission's long-standing position that BITs between EU Member States constitute a parallel treaty system overlapping and conflicting with Union law, thereby preventing its full application. Following the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Achmea (C-284/16), all Member States committed in 2019 to terminate their intra-EU BITs in a coordinated manner by means of either plurilateral agreementor expedient bilateral terminations. The Commission notes that Austria and Sweden did not sign the plurilateral agreement with other Member States and have not finalised the bilateral termination of their intra-EU BITs. Meanwhile, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Italy signed the plurilateral agreement in May 2020, but have not yet completed its ratification process, necessary to ensure legal certainty for investors and businesses. The Commission urges the above mentioned Member States to urgently take all necessary action to remove the intra-EU BITs from their legal order, bearing in mind their incompatibility with Union law. Without a satisfactory response from them within two months, the Commission may decide to address reasoned opinions. In addition, the Commission has sent a complementary reasoned opinion to Sweden for failing effectively to ensure that its Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Romania ceases to produce legal effects. Although Sweden removed the BIT from its legal order formally and unambiguously via mutual agreement with Romania, it has failed to ensure the required degree of legal certainty for investors and businesses, as it did not eliminate in practice all legal effects that the BIT had produced since its incompatibility with Union law first arose. This has enabled arbitral tribunals to take their own view as to the validity of the BIT, so far upholding its applicability and accepting jurisdiction based on its provisions. The Commission urges Sweden to take all necessary actions to ensure that its BIT with Romania ceases to produce legal effects, bearing in mind the incompatibility of the BIT with Union law. Without a satisfactory response from Sweden within the next two months, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
One United Properties, the leading green investor and developer of residential, mixed-use, and office real estate in Romania, announces the signing of a new lease agreement for the relocation of Cencora Romania’s headquarters within One Cotroceni Park, the most modern business ecosystem in Bucharest. Cencora is a global leader in pharmaceutical solutions, dedicated to improving […]
The investment includes the modernization of the production unit in Crevedia and the launch of PIUA, Maidan’s first premium spreadable product range, responding to the growing demand in the ready-to-eat market. Maidan, a company active in corporate and private event catering, industrial catering and the development of its own gastronomic products, announces a total investment […]
One United Properties (BVB: ONE), the leading green investor and developer of residential, mixed-use, and office real estate in Romania, announces the signing of a new lease agreement for the relocation of Cencora Romania’s headquarters within One Cotroceni Park, the most modern business ecosystem in Bucharest. Cencora is a global leader in pharmaceutical solutions, dedicated […]
Unanimously adopted, the Nordis Law marks a decisive moment for Romania’s residential market. It introduces a set of rules designed to protect buyers, hold developers accountable, and reduce speculative risks, with a strong focus on transparency and stability. Under the new legislation, the reservation fee cannot exceed 5% of the property value, reservation contracts cannot […]
Via Dobrogeana, a planned trail covering the southeastern part of the country, aims to offer travelers the opportunity to explore the region's cultural and ethnic diversity. The trail will be about 850 km long, stretching from the 17th-century Sfânta Precista Monastery in Galați to Ialomița County. Via Dobrogeana will be a mixed route. In addition […]
Police and prosecutors carried out 25 searches in Romania and Italy on Tuesday, November 18, aiming to dismantle a group made up of four families, who allegedly sexually exploited, mainly in Italy, more than 30 victims. After the searches, 19 people were detained, and two others were placed under judicial control for forming an organized […]
