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.
More than 2 out of 3 Romanian consumers do not return for a second purchase, according to the new Customer Loyalty Index, a comprehensive analysis based on aggregated data from campaigns and authored by White Image, the oldest email marketing company in Romania. The Index analyzes the post-purchase behavior of Romanian consumers and highlights major […]
Fashion retailer Primark announced major plans to expand its presence in Romania, confirming four new store openings for 2026. This will double its presence in the market and create over 450 new jobs. The announcement arrived at an important moment for the company, which marked three years since the opening of its first Romanian store […]
Romania’s National Road Investment Company (CNIR) awarded on Tuesday, December 16, the contract for the design and construction of the Bacău–Piatra Neamț express road to a Romanian–Bulgarian consortium. The value of the contract is RON 5.17 billion (some EUR 1 billion), excluding VAT, and its signing will take place if no appeals are filed. The […]
Romania will host its first mixed team European Judo Championship in 2027, according to the Romanian Judo Federation. The competition will take place at a key moment in the Olympic cycle, when the points earned will directly influence world rankings and qualification for the Olympic Games, according to FR Judo. The event will...
Radu Miruță, currently Romania’s economy minister, was proposed to lead the Defense Ministry. He will also hold the position of deputy prime minister. In his place, senator Irineu Darău has been proposed to take the helm of the Economy Ministry. The Defense and Economy Ministries are handled by the center-right reformist party Save Romania Union […]
Carrefour Romania has expanded its proximity retail network, reaching 200 Express stores and 191 Market locations nationwide, as part of its strategy to strengthen convenience formats. The retailer announced that the 200th Carrefour Express store will open on December 22. In 2025 alone, Carrefour opened 27 Express stores, including 19 company-operated units and eight franchise […]
