On July 29, the French Court of Cassation dismissed the appeal filed by Paul of Romania against his extradition to Romania, solidifying the execution of the European arrest warrant. This final ruling highlight the effective judicial cooperation between France and Romania, according to the Romanian Ministry of Justice.

Paul of Romania, a descendant of King Carol II, had been fighting extradition since his arrest in Paris on April 7, 2025. He was sentenced in 2020 to three years and four months in prison for influence peddling and complicity, linked to a scheme to recover properties fraudulently. The damage to the Romanian state is estimated at €145 million.

The decision by the French court follows a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) which criticized France's previous refusal to surrender Paul, describing it as contrary to the mutual trust expected among EU member states. The CJEU highlighted concerns over excessive control exercised over Romania's judicial system.

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Former Romanian Justice Minister Radu Marinescu hailed the court's decision as a 'remarkable success' for Romanian judicial authorities, who had persisted despite earlier refusals. The Paris Court of Appeal had initially rejected Romania's extradition request in November 2023, citing concerns over fair trial guarantees due to irregularities in judges' oaths.

In response to the initial rejection, Romanian authorities issued a new arrest warrant in January 2025, supported by the CJEU's 2024 ruling. Paul's lawyer criticized the situation as 'the greatest political scandal,' referencing the inheritance dispute at the heart of the legal battle.

Paul of Romania now joins a list of individuals extradited to Romania following convictions, marking a significant moment in the country's ongoing efforts to address corruption and judicial integrity.