The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) is carrying out nine searches today in Mures County, in an investigation into a possible subsidy fraud involving projects for beekeeping and the processing of honey, financed by the EU. The searches are being conducted at the homes of four individuals and at the headquarters of companies under investigation. At issue are two projects worth €140 000 (RON 696 416) in non-reimbursable funds to support the purchase of beehives, bee colonies and the processing of honey, financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and managed by Romania’s Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR). One of the projects was meant to support young farmers and the other to develop existing bee farms. According to the investigation, a beekeeper colluded with three individuals who met the eligibility conditions for being beneficiaries, in order to submit an application in their names and obtain the funds for himself. The evidence also shows that the three individuals did not carry out the activities required to obtain the grant for existing bee farms. In order to create the appearance of such a farm, they are believed to have used beehives and equipment that belonged to the beekeeper. The investigation and searches counted on the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania – Cluj-Napoca EPPO Office (Structura de sprijin a procurorilor europeni delegati în Romania – Biroul Teritorial Cluj-Napoca), the Mures County Police Inspectorate – Economic Crime Investigation Service and Forensic Service (Inspectoratul de Politie Judetean Mures – Serviciul de investigare a criminalitatii economice si Serviciul Criminalistic) as well as the Targu Mures Special Operations Brigade (Brigada de Operatiuni Speciale) and the Romanian Gendarmerie (Jandarmeria Romana - Gruparea Mobila de Jandarmi Targu-Mures). All persons involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Romanian courts of law. The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It?is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.
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, […]
