The European Commission has announced that it will evaluate the integrity legislation as part of the sixth and final payment request, which has not yet been submitted by Romanian authorities. This response came after significant pressure from the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Renew Europe group, who urged Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to withhold €770 million in EU funds designated for Romania due to concerns over the rule of law.
- The EPP and Renew Europe expressed their apprehensions regarding the law aimed at removing Timișoara Mayor Dominic Fritz, citing it as a potential violation of both EU legislation and the Romanian Constitution.
The request originated from a letter dated August 24, sent by EPP President Manfred Weber and Renew leader Valérie Hayer, seen by Politico. Their communication explicitly states that funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) should only be released if Bucharest abandons plans to amend the law affecting Fritz.
In a statement addressing inquiries from HotNews, a spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed the receipt of the letter, indicating that a response would be forthcoming. The Commission reiterated that discussions are ongoing with Romanian authorities to facilitate the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) by the August 31, 2026 deadline, but declined to provide further comments at this time.
Contents of the Letter to the European Commission
Weber and Hayer emphasized the need for a clear signal from the Commission prior to the Romanian President Nicușor Dan’s potential approval of the law, which could take effect before the August 31 deadline for reforms crucial to unlocking EU funds.
They argue that if legislation is designed to eliminate a political opponent, and EU funds are utilized as leverage to enforce it, this transcends politics and becomes a significant issue regarding the rule of law. Hayer commented, “European taxpayers’ money should never serve as a blank check for political power plays,” highlighting the seriousness of the allegations against the ruling party.
The amendment targeting Fritz has already been deemed constitutional by the Romanian Constitutional Court and is currently being reviewed in Parliament for additional changes mandated by the court. Should the law be enacted, it would result in Fritz losing his position as mayor of Timișoara.
