The European Commission started a new infringement procedure by sending a letter of delay to Romania. The state does not correctly apply the rules of Directive 2011/7 on combating the delay in making payments in commercial transactions, informs a press release of the Community Executive. In particular, the Romanian State, through public entities, is accused of delaying payments to private pharmacies, which can put them into bankruptcy.
Delays in making payments affect companies’ liquidity and complicate their financial situation. They also affect the competitiveness and profitability of businesses, once the creditor has to obtain external financing due to late payments.
“Romania has two months to respond and remedy the deficiencies reported by the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory answer, the Commission can decide to issue a reasoned opinion to Romania and send the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union”, the document of the European institution states.
European directives are not optional
Directive 2011/7 obliges public authorities to pay their invoices within 30 calendar days, the legal payment term can be extended up to a maximum of 60 calendar days for public entities that provide healthcare services.
The Commission reproaches Romania that the public health authorities pay independent pharmacies with significant delays for the medicines issued to patients through the national health insurance system. Since pharmacies are directly liable to distributors and other parts of the supply chain for any delays on their part, these payment delays risk bankrupting independent pharmacies in Romania, the quoted source states.
