Commission refers Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failure to pay pharmacies on time - The European Sting - Critical News & Insights on European Politics, Economy, Foreign Affairs, Business & Technology - europeansting. com European Union News -
Commission refers Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failure to pay pharmacies on time The European Sting - Critical News & Insights on European Politics, Economy, Foreign Affairs, Business & Technology - europeansting. com European Union News -
Home»European Union News»Commission refers Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failure to pay pharmacies on timeJuly 9, 2026byThe Sting's TeamThis article is brought to you in association with theEuropean Commission. Today, the European Commission decided to refer Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to ensure that the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) pays pharmacy operators within the deadlines set by the Late Payment Directive (Directive 2011/7/EU). The Commission considers that late payments owed to pharmacy operators in Romania to be both systemic and persistent. Under Article 4(4)(b) of the Directive, public entities providing healthcare must settle commercial transactions within a maximum of 60 calendar days. CNAS has consistently exceeded this deadline in its payments to pharmacies supplying medicinal products to patients. By failing to ensure that CNAS pays pharmacy operators within the prescribed time limit, Romania has breached its obligations under the Directive. The Commission sent Romania aletter of formal noticein April 2024, followed by areasoned opinion in February 2025and anadditional reasoned opinion in January 2026. The Commission considers that efforts by the authorities have, to date, been insufficient. Therefore, the Commission is referring Romania to the CJEU. Payment delays weaken supply chains, hamper the growth and competitiveness of businesses, and impede their ability to innovate and grow. As late payments constitute a major critical barrier to the Single Market’s competitiveness, the decision is part of the Commission’s enforcement efforts to remove barriers in the Single Market in 11 focus areas, as announced in theCommunication “A simpler, clearer and better enforced EU Rulebook”. Similarly, in itsAnnual Single Market Competitiveness Report 2026, the Commission has announced its intention to prioritise enforcement against late payments by public authorities. The Commission’s proactive stance aims at ensuring that all companies, and in particular SMEs that represent 99% of European businesses, receive timely payments, enabling them to maintain healthy cash flows and invest confidently in their future. BackgroundIn Romania, the reimbursement of medicines is part of the public healthcare system, which operates under CNAS. Romanian pharmacies play a key role in this respect. They purchase medicines from manufacturers and distributors at their own expense, then dispense them to patients under the national public health insurance scheme. CNAS later reimburses pharmacies for the medicines dispensed. In effect, pharmacies finance the supply of medicines upfront, while ensuring patients have timely access to the treatments they need. Following complaints from pharmacy associations representing over 500 independent pharmacies, the Commission decided to launch an infringement procedure against Romania in April 2024. According to the most recent information provided by the Romanian authorities, pharmacies are paid on average between 62 and 79 days later than the 60-day deadline. More informationLate Payment DirectiveEU infringement procedureInfringement decisions databaseandinfringements map and graphsJuly 2026 infringement packageInfringement decisions Romania (INFR(2024)4004)Discover more from The European Sting - Critical News & Insights on European Politics, Economy, Foreign Affairs, Business & Technology - europeansting. comSubscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Filed Under:Business,European Union NewsTagged With:Brussel snews,Brussels magazine,Brussels news,Commission refers Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failure to pay pharmacies on time,Criitcal Times,Critical Magazine,Critical News,Critical Times,EU magazine,EU News,EU Sting,European amgazine,European Magazine,European News,European Union Magazine,The European Sting,The Sting