The Romanian officials live well at the expense of the European Commission. According to the local newspaper Ziare, the budget money from the EU funds have been spent on vintage wines, expensive perfumes, luxuries, and cars. In 2012, Romania was in the top 3 of the European Union countries embezzling the allocated money. Last year the EC registered 225 violations in the country. After that, Bucharest was notified of blocking €10.4 bln, which were earmarked for the regions development. President of Romania Traian Basescu said that there are too many possibilities for embezzlements. The head of the state put the country's secret services in charge of solving the problem and strengthening measures against corruption, which takes place in this misappropriation case.
The revealed machinations will cost Romania €700 mln, which needs to be reimbursed to the EU treasury. The majority of offences were recorded at distributing funds for public procurement. That was announced by EU Funds Minister Eugen Teodorovici speaking to journalists on Monday. He also added that the penalties have been imposed on all operational programs of the EU in Romania, and he has no idea about their sources of payment.
