Tarna Mare Commune Exceeds 10,000 Euros on iPhone 17 Pro for Employees Romania: The small commune of Tarna Mare, with 3,563 residents in Satu Mare County near the Ukrainian border, has spent 43 966,88 RON (≈8,500 EUR) on eight iPhone 17 Pro phones for eight of its 14 employees. The purchase, funded by European Union money, raises questions about spending priorities amid nationwide austerity measures. Local officials claim the phones are needed for official duties, but critics see it as an example of rural municipalities indulging staff rather than investing in community services. The story highlights a broader trend of small Romanian municipalities using EU funds to buy high‑end electronics for staff, sparking debate over fiscal responsibility and the effective use of public money.

Original article can be found here.