The European Commission monitoring report on Romania

Unavoidably influenced by the political turmoil in Bucharest, the European Commission’s country report is an overview of the development of the Romanian justice system in the five years since the country’s entry into the European Union.

During this period, Romania has made progress in all areas covered by the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, which, according to the report, shows the positive role played by this mechanism.

Put in place in 2007 when Romania joined the Union, the mechanism is designed as an instrument that helps monitor the reform of the judicial system and the fight against corruption.

The European Commission points out, however, that the mechanism sometimes met with resistance in Bucharest.

Among the achievements of the last five years, the report cites the new criminal and procedural codes, which, when enforced, will increase the efficiency, consistency and transparency of the judicial system.

At the same time, the European Commission hails the adoption of a national anti-corruption strategy and the progress made in prosecuting top level corruption.

As with the previous reports, the European Commission praises the activity and the results of the National Anti-corruption Directorate and the National Integrity Agency, the body in charge of verifying the legality of dignitaries’ assets.

The National Anti-corruption Directorate, remains, in the opinion of the European Commission, a leading institution involved in the fight against corruption since 2007.

The Directorate has investigated and prosecuted cases involving magistrates, mayors, parliamentarians, former ministers and politicians from across the political spectrum.

Between 2008 and 2011, the Directorate prosecuted cases involving losses to the state budget totaling 1.13 billion euros. Despite clear progress in the fight against corruption, the Romanians still see this scourge as a big problem, as revealed by the eurobarometer, quoted in the report.

The European Commission recommends the authorities in Bucharest to come up with a policy that promotes responsibility and integrity within the legal system through solid disciplinary practices and jurisprudence.

The report concludes that Romania can achieve all the objectives set by the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, including the reform of the judiciary and combating low and high level corruption, if it goes ahead with its progress and steps up the implementation of the reforms required under the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification.