The European Parliament's European People's Party (EPP, centre-right) and Renew Europe (liberal) groups have urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to make clear to Romania that the disbursement of funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) is conditional on implementing reforms in full compliance with the rule of law, EU law, human rights standards and Venice Commission recommendations. According to a letter obtained by Politico, the request concerns the so-called 'Fritz amendment' recently adopted by the Romanian Parliament.

EPP leader Manfred Weber and Renew Europe leader Valérie Hayer warn of 'serious concerns for the rule of law in Romania and for the risk that a disbursement of €770 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) could inadvertently contribute to undermining Romanian democracy', calling for 'the Commission's urgent attention and action.'

The two MEPs said the Romanian Parliament had recently adopted legislation directly affecting the term of Timisoara Mayor Dominic Fritz, raising concerns that the law was designed to target an individual case rather than address a general legal issue.

'This law constitutes one of the remaining reform milestones that Romania must fulfill by 31 August in order to access the final grant tranche under the RFF,' the letter says, and continues: 'Fritz had previously been found by the Romanian Integrity Agency to be in an administrative conflict of interest over a minor procedural issue relating to an urban zoning plan from 2020 developed under his predecessor, a charge that several independent observers have described as 'fabricated' (e.g. the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Romania). Fritz lost his final appeal against that finding in 2026, ten days after the Romanian Council of Judges placed him on an official 'blacklist' of politicians, journalists and civil society activists critical of the Romanian justice system. Under the integrity law then in force, Fritz received a disciplinary sanction consisting of a 10% salary reduction for six months and a three-year ban on running for public office following the end of his mayoral term in 2028. Irrespective of the merits of that decision, the applicable legal consequences had therefore already been established.'

The signatories argue that a last-minute amendment introduced by a PSD-AUR majority imposed an additional sanction on public officials who had been found to have a conflict of interest before the law entered into force, by immediately terminating their elected mandate.

'Public statements by senior PSD and AUR leaders leave no doubt that the amendment was specifically designed to target a single individual, Mr Dominic Fritz. His position as president of USR makes the apparent instrumentalization of legislative and legal mechanisms for political purposes all the more disconcerting. The Romanian Constitution, as well as fundamental principles of law, are clear: laws may only operate prospectively, and a person who has already been tried and sanctioned cannot retroactively be subjected to additional punishment,' Weber and Hayer said.

They also pointed to Fritz's status as a German citizen elected in Romania, arguing that his mandate is protected under Article 22(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

'In our assessment, the 'Fritz amendment' raises serious concerns regarding not only its compatibility with the Romanian Constitution, but also with several safeguards under the European Convention on Human Rights and of Union law,' the letter states. 'The electoral rights of mobile Union citizens are enforceable by the Commission, and we invite you to exercise those powers,' it goes on to say.

The legislation was challenged before Romania's Constitutional Court by the PNL and USR parties, as well as President Nicusor Dan. The court subsequently rejected the objections, although three Constitutional Court judges issued a strongly worded dissenting opinion.

Weber and Hayer also argue that, 'under the guise of fulfilling a reform milestone for the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Romanian Parliament has introduced a measure that directly violates Union law and constitutes a serious setback for the rule of law in Romania. While the 'Fritz amendment' is the most egregious example, the law may also contain other provisions that are at odds with the original objectives of the reform agreed with the Commission,' which is why the signatories call for a thorough assessment of the reform package, including provisions they say could weaken transparency requirements and introduce disproportionate disciplinary sanctions.

'Madam President, the Commission should play an active role in protecting the rule of law in Romania. Complying with European values and the rule of law should be an absolute prerequisite for accessing EU funds, including RRF funds in any Member State,' the two leaders said. 'We urge you to make it unequivocally clear that the disbursement of RRF funds is conditional upon those reforms being implemented in full compliance with the principles of the rule of law, EU law, European human rights standards and the recommendations of the Venice Commission.'

They also warned that time was running out, as the law has not yet been promulgated by President Dan and the 31 August deadline is approaching. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Florin Stefan; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)