The President of the Competition Council stated that the exchange of information between banks in setting the ROBOR is equivalent to a classic cartel.

Bogdan Chirițoiu, the president of the Competition Council, stated that there is no difference between a classic cartel and the exchange of information between banks in the context of setting ROBOR. In the show 'Impact Map', he explained that discussions between banks, such as aligning rates, are sufficient to manipulate the index without a formal agreement existing.

The Competition Council has fined 10 banks with a record fine of 3.73 billion lei (approximately 710 million euros) for manipulating ROBOR, which affects the loans of Romanians and companies. The fined banks have three months to present a compliance plan. Chirițoiu emphasized that, from a legal standpoint, information exchanges and agreements are treated the same, having the same penalty.