The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Romania (CCIPR) expresses its concern about the new draft law on the regulation of bilateral and non-bilateral chambers of commerce, a document supported by the CCIR, which, according to it, this typology restricts the fundamental right to freedom of association enshrined in the Romanian Constitution, as well as in the European Convention on Human Rights.

This reaction followed the reaction of AmCham Romania (American Chamber of Commerce).

In addition, according to the bill in question, the obligation of chambers to register in the National Register, which is administered by the National Chamber, as well as to submit an annual report on activities certifying the fulfillment of goals, under the threat of liquidation of the entity, is introduced.

“This typology limits the fundamental right to freedom of association enshrined in the Constitution of Romania, as well as in the European Convention on Human Rights. We believe that this approach, in which one private organization has control over another private organization, seriously threatens the democratic nature of freedom of association,” the CCIPR said.

• Our association (CCIPR), founded in 1994 and recognized by the Italian government in 2004, is part of the Assocamerestero system, joined by more than 80 Italian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIE) from more than 60 countries around the world.

“The CCIPR is subject to management control by the diplomatic representation present in the territory (Embassy of Italy in Bucharest), as well as economic and administrative expertise by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) through the reports that the institution is obliged to provide.

The recognition by the Italian state – and the continued operation of the same association as a bilateral chamber of commerce – took place on the basis of a statute approved by the courts, which establishes clear reporting mechanisms,” the quoted source said.

For these reasons, the CCIPR decided, together with other chambers, to sign a critical document of a new initiative addressed to the highest authorities of the state.

They had never seen anything like it anywhere else

“When conducting an analysis at the European level, we did not find another similar situation, namely in the case where the National Chamber of Commerce performs the role of “oversight” in relation to bilateral chambers present in this territory, or in any case with business associations. . In the same way, in other countries, Romanian bilateral chambers of commerce are not subordinated to national chambers,” CCIPR notes.

As the draft was approved by the Romanian Senate and is being considered by the committees of the Chamber of Deputies, the CCIPR, along with 10 other business associations, requested the repeal of any provision that threatens the functioning of freedom of association, giving some powers that

go beyond the activities of the National Chamber.

8 chambers oppose: Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK), American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham), Chamber of Commerce of Belgium, Luxembourg, Romania and Moldova (BEROCC), Romanian-British Chamber of Commerce (BRCC). , the Swiss-Romanian Chamber of Commerce (CCE-R), the French Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Romania (CCIFER), the Romanian-Dutch Chamber of Commerce (NRCC) and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Romania (CCIPR). 3 business organizations are added to them: AOAR, RBL and Council of Foreign Investors.

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