The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Timisoara (Romania) has accused seven individuals and two companies of subsidy fraud and forgery, involving three projects regarding the development of fruit harvesting and processing, with a value of over €1.4 million. According to the investigation, between February 2019 and June 2024, the suspects, including a mayor, successfully applied in the name of two companies for three projects financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). They allegedly falsified documents regarding the information of the beneficiary of the projects and the employees of the companies to proof their eligibility to apply for the projects. In the early stages of the investigation, a lawyer, who is also a suspect in this investigation, encouraged certain witnesses to provide false statements, helping the main suspects and obstructing the investigation. The European Delegated Prosecutor in charge of the investigation ordered the detention of the seven suspects and he will request their pre-trial detention. EPPO has seized buildings, lands and money belonging to the suspects. The investigation and searches counted on the support of the EPPO Support Structure in Romania: Timisoara and Iasi EPPO Offices (Structura de sprijin a procurorilor europeni delegati în Romania – Birourile Teritoriale Timisoara si Iasi), Timis County Police Inspectorate – Economic Crime Investigation Service (Inspectoratul de Politie Judetean Timis – Serviciul de investigare a criminalit?tii economice), Special Operations Brigade Timisoara (Brigada de Operatiuni Speciale Timis), Organised Crime Brigade Timisoara (Brigada de combatere a criminalit?tii organizate Timisoara) and the Mobile Group of Gendarmes Timisoara (Gruparea mobile de jandarmi Timisoara). 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. (Source:https://www.eppo.europa.eu/)
Romanian prime minister Ilie Bolojan stated during an interview on Wednesday, December 17, that there should be no statute of limitations in cases of serious corruption. The statement comes after a Recorder investigation, which showed that several heads of the major institutions in the Romanian justice system allegedly delayed trials for years until wrongdoings were […]
President Nicușor Dan has challenged, before the Constitutional Court (CCR), the constitutionality of the law that requires that at least 40% of the athletes who play on a team in official national competitions be Romanian. Dan noted that the law violates the principle of non-discrimination and the free movement of workers, enshrined both in the […]
Craiova International Airport will open its new passenger terminal on Thursday, December 18, completing a major infrastructure investment aimed at significantly expanding capacity and improving air connectivity in southwestern Romania. It is part of a broader expansion and modernization project financed through the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme (POIM) 2014–2020, with a total value exceeding EUR […]
Romania is set to be connected to the Western European energy network thanks to grid investments worth EUR 30 billion. The funds will be provided by the EU by 2035, and the project will link Romania to Hungary and Austria in a joint project. Romanian energy minister Bogdan Ivan signaled the signing of the new […]
Franck Bagouet has been appointed managing director of TotalEnergies Marketing Romania SA and managing director of Automotive Southeast Europe Hub TotalEnergies Marketing. He succeeds Didier Grimault, who has accepted a new position within the TotalEnergies company. “I am glad to join this dynamic affiliate and confident that, together with our talented team, we will reinforce […]
Databricks, the data analytics and artificial intelligence company co-founded by Romanian professors Ion Stoica and Matei Zaharia, announced on Tuesday, December 16, that it is raising USD 4 billion in funding at a valuation of USD 134 billion, according to CNBC. The new valuation represents a 34% increase compared to the August round, when Databricks […]
