EU state aid rules stipulate that if a Member State acts in a way that a prudent private investor would, and is compensated for the risk in a manner acceptable to such an investor, the intervention is not considered state aid.
In September 2024, Romania notified the EC of its plan to inject capital into CEC Bank. The primary objectives of this move include boosting the bank's lending capacity, developing the CEC Financial Group, and enhancing operational efficiency through workflow improvements.
Romania provided a business plan spanning 2025-2028, a long-term outlook for 2029-2032, and a report detailing the 'private investor test', all of which were assessed by the EC.
The Commission's analysis of Romania's business plan indicated that the capital injection is projected to generate returns in line with market conditions for the sole shareholder of CEC Bank.
The business plan also forecasts an increase in market share for lending and deposits, improved efficiency, and strong capital levels for the bank.
