EC believes Romania has made progress in justice

The report published on Friday by the European Commission acknowledges that Romania has had a ‘constructive response’ to the suggestions the European Commission had made, which were included in the last report, printed six months ago.

According to the report, Romania has taken several important measures in the judicial reform in order to enhance the rhythm of the justice process, by adopting and implementing the ‘small reform law,’ a procedure law meant to hurry closing cases, and by amending the law about the Constitutional Law.

Romania is also preparing to implement a new legislative framework for civil and criminal law.

According to the report, the National Anticorruption Directorate has had ‘convincing results in corruption investigations at a high level’.

The report also shows that there have been more and more indefinite sentences and dissuasive penalties and an independent evaluation of the impact of the two most recent anticorruption strategies was released.

Another positive aspect mentioned in the report is passing an improved law for the National Integrity Agency, but the report also mentions the budget cuts decided by the Parliament which are going to affect its activity.

Criminal and Civil Codes ‘have to be implemented’

In order to consolidate the fast pace of the reform, which has been revergorated these past months, the report suggests that Romania has to thoroughly prepare in order to implement the new legislative framework for civil and criminal law.

The report also shows that the new Superior Council of Magistracy is an important opportunity for a close and constructive cooperation between various political and judicial actors in the field.

Until the next Commission evaluation this summer, the report recommends that Romania focus on launching an independent evaluation of the judicial system, on the disciplinary system reform concerning magistrates and on measures that would hurry the justice process in cases of high-level corruption cases and consolidate the anticorruption policy.
Ministry of Justice Cătălin Predoiu is soon going to present his official stand on the justice report.

Translated by: Gabriela Lungu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University