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.
I am a bit late to the party, but I have thoughts (and concerns) on Radu Jude’s much talked-about Dracula, and even more thoughts (and compliments) on other films that I fear might have gone under the radar a bit. Let’s go! There is no more recognizable marketing asset for the local tourism (and no […]
Waterdrop®, brandul european care a redefinit experiența de hidratare prin soluții sustenabile și design minimalist, lansează în România colecția AO26 în Ediție Limitată, inspirată de dinamica și ritmul inconfundabil al Australian Open. Noua colecție aduce în prim-plan produse create pentru cei care își doresc hidratare de nivel profesionist în viața de zi cu zi, de […]
The 33rd edition of Concerto di Natale, held on December 13, 2025, at the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome, will feature Romanian artists Stephanie Radu and Alin Stoica. The concert, a Christmas emblem, brings artists from all over the world before the international public. Soprano Stephanie Radu will perform two special moments, namely “Regalo di Natale,” her […]
North Bucharest Investments has been honored at the CIJ Awards 2025 with the Best Residential Real Estate Agency of the Year distinction — a recognition of the company’s performance, dedication, and strong positioning within Romania’s high-end residential market. “This award is about people. About those who choose, every single day, to believe in this company, […]
Romania ranks 11th in the world in the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, with a “very high” level of English language skills. According to the index, which represents one of the most extensive global studies on language competence, adults in Romania show a high level of English knowledge. English remains the main international language of communication, […]
Over EUR 1 million was raised at the 25th Christmas Tree Festival, which took place on Thursday, December 4, at the National Museum of Art in Bucharest. Funds will be used by Save the Children Romania, the organizer of the auction, for access to quality education. The tree that raised the most money in the […]
