Corruption and tax evasion
A week of fight against corruption at the countrys borders is unfolding in Romania.
Valentin Țigău, 05.12.2016, 13:32
Over December 5 and 9, on the occasion of the International Anticorruption Day, celebrated on December 9, a special action entitled “The Anticorruption week at the borders” is unfolding in Romania. Responsible behaviour and the elimination of risks related to acts of corruption, raising the awareness of the citizens who cross Romania’s borders with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are some of the requirements made by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in this period of time. Until Friday, December 9, citizens of the three countries and other tourists who cross the border into Romania, at the checkpoints in Sighet, Halmeu, Galati, Oancea, Albita, Siret and Otopeni Airport, will receive leaflets, brochures and recommendations from representatives of the Anti-corruption Directorate, of the Border Police and from volunteers, to have a decent behaviour and a pro-active attitude and make notifications and signal acts of corruption.
The slogan of the program is: Corruption does not cross the border here! Participating in the campaign will also be, as volunteers, students from the border towns and communes, together with which the National-Anticorruption Directorate has signed a protocol of collaboration, under the motto “Youngsters against corruption!” The measures meant to prevent and fight corruption at the border are actually intensely brought into the focus of attention, the more so as Romania has applied for Schengen accession for many years now. Whether Bucharest authorities say there are no objective and technical reasons for Romania not to join the free movement area, a political decision, reached by consensus, and favourable to Romania, is still pending.
The main objection levelled by some EU partners is precisely the high level of corruption. Joining the Schengen area entails the elimination of controls at the EU’s internal borders, in the member states which fully apply the Schengen acquis, only one external border being thus created, where controls are made according to a clear set of rules, relative to visas, migration, asylum, as well as measures referring to police, judicial and customs cooperation.
Concurrently with the anticorruption measures taken at the borders in the month of December, inspectors of the National Fiscal Administration Agency, ANAF, will make extensive control operations at companies whose activity is intensifying ahead of the winter holidays. They will mainly monitor the flows of goods purchased from other EU member states or imported from other countries, in an effort to identify the risks generated by the fiscal behaviour of the consignees mentioned in the customs and transport papers, as well as in the support documents. All throughout December, ANAF will organise tens of bids to sell goods and properties, to recover the sums of money set by final court rulings.
(Translated by Diana Vijeu)
