Barroso: Romania's progress is not straightforward; EC raises concerns about judicial independence

The recent Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report issued by the European Commission shows that Romania has taken some significant steps, but that that progress is not straightforward and that advances in one area can be negated by setbacks elsewhere, according to EC president Jose Manuel Barroso. “I hope this report will clearly highlight what still needs to be done to pursue and consolidate reform and ensure a positive and sustainable trend," he went on. The report found that the track record of the key judicial and integrity institutions has remained positive, even in the face of sometimes difficult circumstances. “Necessary and long awaited legislative changes have remained on track, and a spirit of cooperation between judicial institutions and the Ministry of Justice is helping managerial issues to be tackled,”it reads. But EC officials also raise concerns about judicial independence, with many examples of resistance to integrity and anti-corruption measures. “The rushed and untransparent amendment of the Criminal Code in December 2013 sparked widespread concern as a challenge to the regime for tackling corruption and promoting integrity, even if the Constitutional Court showed checks and balances at work in ruling this unconstitutional,”according to the Commission. But all in all, the EC sees the reform process as “sustainable and the positive developments deemed irreversible.” The verification was not lifted, and another report in due in a year's time, as the EC sees the monitoring process continues to be a valuable support to reform in Romania. “The Commission invites Romania to pursue and consolidate progress on its recommendations on the reform of the judiciary, integrity and the fight against corruption,” it concluded. The report presents the Commission's analysis on the steps Romania has taken in the past twelve months and shows where further steps are needed. The first CVM report was issued in 2007, to assess the commitments made by Romania in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption. The full report can be found here (in pdf). editor@romania-insider.com