Romania's investment control regime has undergone significant revisions, expanding the scope of scrutinized investments and introducing an examination fee. The regime applies to both EU and non-EU investors and targets investments over EUR 2,000,000 in strategic sectors. The authorization procedure includes a notification requirement, an authorization fee, and a dual notification for transactions that are both foreign direct investments and mergers. The Foreign Financial Contributions Regime in the EU addresses non-EU financial contributions to EU economic operators, with severe penalties for non-compliance. Companies must conduct due diligence, prepare for transactions, and adjust schedules for FDI and FSR authorizations, prioritizing competition-related aspects and seeking legal assistance due to legislative uncertainties.

Romania's investment control regime has undergone significant revisions, expanding the scope of scrutinized investments and introducing an examination fee. The regime applies to both EU and non-EU investors and targets investments over EUR 2,000,000 in strategic sectors. The authorization procedure includes a notification requirement, an authorization fee, and a dual notification for transactions that are both foreign direct investments and mergers. The Foreign Financial Contributions Regime in the EU adds an extra assessment level for non-EU contributions to EU economic operators. Companies must conduct due diligence, prepare for transactions, and adjust schedules for FDI and FSR authorizations. The importance of specialized legal assistance and proactive investment planning is emphasized due to legislative uncertainties and the risk of substantial fines.

Gurwinder, an Indian worker in Romania, shares his harrowing experience of labor exploitation, including poor living conditions, long working hours, and withheld passports. Despite promises of good working conditions and pay, many Asian workers face severe hardships. Recruitment agencies, like International Work Finder, are criticized for their role in this exploitation. The article highlights the broader issue of labor exploitation in Romania, exacerbated by the influx of foreign workers to fill labor shortages. Efforts by some workers to protest and seek better conditions have had limited success.

Over the past three years, the Romanian government has spent over 38 million euros on surveillance systems, primarily through direct contracts without public tenders. Most of these systems have been installed in rural areas. The analysis of public procurement data reveals that a significant portion of the funds came from local municipalities, with the top spenders being small communes. Companies like Dynamics Codes and Orange Romania Communications have benefited the most from these contracts. The article highlights issues with transparency and the complexity of the public procurement system, raising questions about the necessity and effectiveness of widespread surveillance in rural communities.

The article discusses the influence of Copa-Cogeca, the EU's largest farming lobby, which claims to represent over 22 million European farmers. However, interviews with farmers, insiders, and other stakeholders reveal that the lobby's policies often favor large, industrial farms over smallholders and environmentally conscious practices. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which incentivizes industrial agriculture, is a significant part of the EU budget and has been supported by Copa-Cogeca. The lobby has considerable access to EU institutions and has been resistant to stricter environmental regulations. Copa-Cogeca's membership figures are declining, and there is growing dissent among its affiliates who feel marginalized. The article also highlights the challenges faced by small-scale farmers like Stela Zămoiu in Romania, who feel underrepresented by the lobby and the government. The lobby's push for high-tech agriculture is at odds with the vision of many young and small-scale farmers who advocate for sustainable and biodiversity-friendly farming practices.

Since 2017, Romania has been issuing visas to Asian workers to address labor shortages, with non-EU recruitment quotas increasing from 3,000 in 2016 to 100,000 in 2022. These migrants face unprepared institutions, leading to abuse and exploitation. The investigation, conducted with Libertatea and journalists from India and Vietnam, reveals the harsh realities faced by workers like Gurwinder, a civil engineer from India, who experienced employer abuses and considered suicide. Recruitment agencies, such as International Work Finder, have proliferated, with some engaging in unethical practices. Workers incur debts to pay recruitment fees and are often exploited due to their financial vulnerability. The article details the experiences of workers from India, Nepal, and Vietnam, including passport confiscation, unpaid wages, and poor living conditions. Some have witnessed accidents and deaths among their colleagues, with the causes often uninvestigated.

Illegal oil spills, particularly from ships discharging untreated bilge water, continue to be a significant environmental issue in European waters. Despite substantial investments by the EU in monitoring systems, the effectiveness of these measures remains low, with only a small percentage of alerts being verified. The European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Commission acknowledge the inefficiency of the current system. Investigations reveal that many spills go unchecked due to insufficient personnel and logistical challenges. The problem is exacerbated by outdated ships and inadequate enforcement, leading to ongoing environmental damage.

The article discusses the contentious relationship between tech giants like Facebook and Google and news publishers, particularly in the context of the Balkans. It highlights the disparity in profits made by these tech companies from news content and the minimal compensation news publishers receive in return. The article references a Bloomberg analysis and mentions the Australian case where media organizations have been able to negotiate deals with these tech companies. It also touches on the European Union's efforts to enact copyright reform to ensure fair compensation for publishers. The article includes opinions from Tihomir Loza of SEENPM and a professional from the Romanian Center for Independent Journalism, who express skepticism about the effectiveness of Australian-style regulations in other regions and discuss the importance of public funding for journalism to maintain its role in democracy.

The article investigates the issue of commercial ships polluting the Black Sea with bilge water, highlighting the lack of effective monitoring and enforcement by Romanian authorities. Despite satellite detection of oil spills, local authorities often fail to confirm or act on these alerts, leading to ongoing environmental damage. The investigation, coordinated by Lighthouse Reports and published across multiple European outlets, reveals systemic issues in maritime pollution control, with only a small percentage of alerts being verified on-site. The report underscores the need for improved regulatory oversight to protect the marine environment.

The article investigates the ongoing issue of bilge dumping in European waters, where ships illegally discharge oily wastewater containing hazardous substances. Despite efforts by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to monitor and prevent this through the CleanSeaNet system, the problem persists. The investigation, in partnership with Skytruth, used satellite imagery and machine learning to detect hundreds of potential illegal dumps since 2020. Whistleblowers within the maritime industry have revealed the structural nature of bilge dumping and the methods used to evade detection. The article highlights the lack of enforcement and accountability, with low response rates from EU member states and minimal fines that fail to deter offenders. The impact of bilge dumping on marine life is also discussed, emphasizing the toxic effects on small organisms and the overall environmental threat posed by these frequent, yet less visible, spills.