Whistleblowers are an essential source of information for investigation and public prosecution services. The correct transposition and effective implementation of Directive (EU)2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (Whistleblowers’ protection Directive) therefore is of direct operational relevance for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. If you fail to protect whistleblowers, you limit detection. If you do not detect, you cannot investigate and prosecute. The European Chief Prosecutor has duly noted that on 29 June 2022, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies finally adopted a law aiming to transpose the Whistleblowers’ protection Directive. Based on the preliminary analysis of the law, and especially of the amendments made to the draft law on 28 June 2022, just before its adoption by the plenary, the European Chief Prosecutor is assessing whether some of these provisions would be contrary to the Whistleblowers’ protection Directive, and represent a step backwards with regard to the current level of protection, established under national law since 2004. The main point of concern is that this could have a chilling effect, discouraging potential whistleblowers in Romania and negatively affecting the level of detection of EU fraud. De facto, this would lead to a deterioration of the existing system ensuring the proper functioning of investigation and public prosecution services in relation to the investigation and prosecution of fraud, including tax fraud, corruption or other breaches of Union law relating to the implementation of the Union budget or to the protection of the financial interests of the Union. It is important to recall, in addition, that the EPPO has not yet received the nomination of 9 European Delegated Prosecutors from Romania and that there has been a considerable delay in granting the EPPO office in Romania an adequate number of judicial police officers in support of its operations. The European Chief Prosecutor is considering whether this persisting situation, combined with the latest developments would warrant a report to the European Commission in line with Recital 16 of Regulation (EU) 2020/2092 of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union Budget.
Talent Connect Inc. is proud to announce that it has been officially designated by the U.S. Department of State as a sponsor for the J-1 Visa Intern and Trainee Programs. This prestigious designation empowers Talent Connect Inc. to facilitate structured and guided training programs in the United States for eligible international university students, recent graduates, […]
Romanian president Nicușor Dan is present Thursday and Friday, June 26-27, in Brussels, at the first European Council since he took office as president. EU leaders at the event are set to discuss a range of topics, such as the situation of the war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East, security and defense […]
Celebrities will no longer be allowed to appear in gambling advertisements on TV, radio, and online, following a decision voted on Wednesday, June 26, in a public session of Romania’s audiovisual watchdog, the National Audiovisual Council (CNA). This provision is part of a series of amendments made to the Audiovisual Regulatory Code, the secondary legislation […]
Hidroelectrica, the largest energy provider in Romania, announced on Thursday, June 26, that it had awarded the tender for a floating photovoltaic panel system within the “Nufărul Pilot Project.” The public procurement was initiated through an open tender, with an estimated value of RON 47.2 million (EUR 9.5 million) excluding VAT. Two economic operators submitted […]
Bucharest is set to bring back its tourist bus service, following a decision by the city’s General Council on Wednesday, June 25, to establish a dedicated public transport line called “Bucharest City Tour,” Agerpres...
Romania has made limited progress in enhancing its framework against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, according to a recent report from the Council of Europe’s committee of experts on the evaluation of anti-money laundering measures and the financing of terrorism, or Moneyval. The committee noted that the country has taken several steps to […]
