September 28, 2017 UPDATE

Higher Council of Magistrates in Bucharest gives negative opinion on bill amending justice laws

Newsroom, 28.09.2017, 19:46

PRESIDENCY– The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, Thursday received the Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova, Andrian Candu, in Bucharest. The agenda of the meeting included topics like bilateral cooperation, with a focus on projects in the energy sector, the Republic of Moldovas relations with the EU and recent developments in that ex-Soviet state. Among other things, President Iohannis reiterated Romanias unconditional support for strengthening Moldovas ties with the European Union. In turn, the Speaker of the Parliament in Chisinau thanked Romania for its support.

JUSTICE – The Higher Council of Magistrates in Bucharest Thursday issued a negative opinion on the bill amending the laws on the judiciary. The document was criticised by magistrates and European Commission experts. In turn, the US Ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm said the US was worried that Justice Minister Tudorel Toaders proposals to reform the judicial system might reverse the progress made by Romania so far as a model in terms of fighting corruption. On August 30, the Justice Ministry posted a bill designed to bring changes to the laws regulating the justice system. The provisions that sparked criticism included the bypassing of the countrys president in the appointment of prosecutor office chiefs and the subordination of the judicial inspection corps to the Justice Ministry. The official opinion of the Higher Council of Magistrates is non-binding.

NATURAL GAS – The European Commissioner for Energy and Climate Change, Miguel Arias Cañete, said on Thursday in Bucharest that the BRUA project, a planned natural gas pipeline in which Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria are taking part, is important for the European Commission. According to the EU official, the Commission gave Romania a loan of nearly 180 million euros for the first stage of the project. In turn, the Romanian Minister for Energy, Toma Petcu, said BRUA would be finalised in all the 4 member States involved, under a memorandum of agreement signed in Bucharest on Thursday. Petcu also said works would begin next spring. The statements were made during a meeting of the Central and South Eastern Europe Gas Connectivity group.

EPPO – The European Parliaments Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Thursday approved the setting up of a European Public Prosecutors Office, to investigate cross-border corruption and tax evasion. Under certain conditions, the EPPO will have the power to investigate, prosecute and bring to justice those who commit offences against the EU budget, such as fraud against structural funds or VAT fraud. The institution will be based in Luxemburg, and will start working 3 years after the European Parliament resolution in this respect comes into force. So far 18 member states, including Romania, have joined this enhanced cooperation structure.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)