In the context of the recent tragic loss of 32 lives and over 150 severely injured in the Friday arson at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest, the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham Romania) calls for an imperative and immediate reform of the law enforcement process in Romania and a zero tolerance to bribery and corruption so that Romania becomes a safe country for its citizens.
On top of other tragedies that go unnoticed by the public at large but which leave behind hurt families and communities daily, the recent tragedy that fired up the entire Romanian society proves once again that on the long term, corruption, carelessness, self-interest and lack of performance not only prevent the country's progress but also create deeper crisis, waste valuable resources and, most importantly, put human life at risk.
We consider that so far the anti-corruption efforts have proven to be inefficient and change is needed at all levels of the Romanian society, from central administration to the most remote education or healthcare unit. While authorities share most of the responsibility when it comes to ensuring clear regulatory frameworks, enforcing and supervising safety in all areas of practice, each counterpart, business and individual, needs to be a change driver towards a safer and healthier environment. Romania’s transformation is a collective effort, and unless sources for change do not involve simultaneously both bottom-up and top-down processing, tragedies of all sorts will continue to strongly impact the Romanian people.
AmCham Romania is a stand for firm anti-corruption joint measures, by upholding the highest standards of business ethics and integrity and supporting our members in their similar actions, as well as by being a valuable contributor in the public-private dialogue aimed at a clear and enforced legislation that leaves no room for interpretation, abuses or lack of accountability.
About AmCham Romania:
The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham Romania) is the business association of choice for advocacy and business growth in Romania. The organization was founded in 1993 and it now represents over 400 members - U.S., international and local companies, with total investments worth over USD 20 billion and generating approximately 250,000 jobs. AmCham Romania is firmly committed to facilitating an open dialogue between the business community and the central authorities, promoting transparent solutions and priorities for making Romania a better home for businesses and increasing the country’s economic competitiveness in the region and at European level. AmCham Romania is an accredited member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and part of the European network – AmChams in Europe.
