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Romania Integrity Law faces European Commission inquiry

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2026-09-02 21:38 UTC → 2026-09-03 18:43 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has upheld the ‘Fritz amendment’ within the Integrity Law, a decision that remains highly controversial due to its potential retroactive application. The amendment allows for the termination of public mandates 30 days after a conflict of interest or incompatibility is definitively established. In its 65-page justification, the CCR argued the provision does not constitute a retroactive personal sanction but rather seeks to ‘end a mandate whose integrity has been affected.’ Legal experts remain divided, with critics arguing the ruling violates the principle against the retroactivity of laws by imposing new consequences on finalized facts. Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz has criticized the logic, stating, ‘We can rest easy: the CCR-PSD reasoned that the sanction does not apply to me, but to my mandate.’ Fritz has announced plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Following the enactment of the law, the European Commission has officially requested explanations from Romanian authorities regarding the ‘Fritz amendment.’ ~~Ana Gallego, Director General of the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, has given Bucharest two weeks to respond to inquiries concerning~~ The inquiry focuses on whether the law complies with European legal principles, including legal certainty, proportionality, and non-retroactivity. The Commission is also investigating potential violations of the ‘ne bis in idem’ principle, which prohibits double punishment for the same offense. Specifically, the Commission is examining whether mandate terminations are preceded by an individual analysis of the gravity of the offense. The investigation carries significant economic implications, as the Integrity Law is a key milestone in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). ~~Failure to satisfy the Commission could lead to the suspension or reduction of~~ To protect a 770 million euro payment ~~tranche.~~ tranche, Romanian officials, including Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu, have engaged with European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath. Authorities have been given two weeks to respond to the Commission’s inquiries.

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