Business Corruption in Romania
Corruption is a serious problem in Romania and is, accordingly, a problematic factor for business. Foreign investors complain of complicated procedures, arbitrary application of rules and occasional requests for
bribes
when resolving administrative tasks related to business operations. The Romanian
Criminal Code
and other supporting laws make it illegal for an individual to give or accept a bribe, including bribery of foreign officials. A company can be held criminally liable for corruption offences committed by individuals acting on their behalf, and the government does not enforce anti-corruption laws effectively. Recent years have witnessed a series of high-level corruption prosecution cases and many prison-sentenced political figures, including a former prime minister, judges and MPs. In addition, perceived corruption was a factor in former prime minister Ponta's resignation following a Bucharest nightclub fire in November 2015. Impunity and
petty corruption
are problems in Romania as irregular payments and bribes are common practice. The law does not distinguish between bribes and
facilitation payments
, and
gifts
and hospitality may be considered illegal depending on their intent and benefit obtained.
November 2015
GAN Integrity Solutions
