Romania may have to amend Integrity Law to secure EUR 770 mln RRF grant

The government of Romania said on September 3 that it was taking steps to ensure the country fully collects the EUR 770 million Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) grant linked to the new Integrity Agency (ANI) Law, while acknowledging that the legislation may have to be amended if it is found not to comply with European law.

The statement came after the European Commission requested clarifications from Romania on the law, particularly regarding an amendment that could have retroactive effects on local elected officials, including Timisoara mayor Dominic Fritz, president of the reformist Save Romania Union (USR). The EC has asked Romania to explain how the legislation can produce retroactive effects while itself being non-retroactive and whether the provisions comply with the principles of legal certainty and proportionality.