The Week in Review January 25-29

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România Internațional, 30.01.2016, 12:32

Positive report for Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism

For the third consecutive year Romania got a positive review under the European Commissions Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, which confirms progress reported in reforming the judiciary and combating corruption. According to the report, in 2015 the National Anti-Corruption Directorate indicted 1,250 people, including former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, former Ministers, MPs, mayors, county council presidents, judges, prosecutors and other high-ranking officials. This progress is owed largely to the professionals in the justice system, the enactment of the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes and the earmarking of human and financial resources, Justice Minister Raluca Pruna has said. The Romanian Minister believes the report might result in lifting the CVM monitoring for Romania in the near future:

“There are clear premises that this mechanism should no longer be necessary in the not too distant future, which the European Commission, the Romanian authorities and society in general must see.

Nevertheless, the Commission has criticized the Romanian Parliament for not responding to prosecutors requests to lift the immunity of certain officials suspected of corruption, without proper reasoning.

Romanian politicians on trial

The Permanent Bureau of the Romanian Senate on Wednesday submitted the request of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate regarding the prosecution of former Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea to the Judicial Committee. Gabriel Oprea has asked his fellow Senators to approve the request, arguing he does not want to take advantage of his immunity and claiming he is innocent. Oprea is being charged in two cases of malfeasance in office and obtaining undue benefits for himself or a third party during his time in office. Gabriel Oprea allegedly used the human and material resources of the Interior Ministry to illegally make use of the official police escort. Also this week, the Social-Democrat Deputy Ion Stan has been sentenced to two years in prison for influence peddling. The ruling of the High Court of Cassation and Justice is final. Ion Stan was charged for having received bribes from businesspeople during the election campaign of 2012 in exchange for facilitating contracts with the state.

A new European Counter Terrorism Centre in Amsterdam

Several EU Member States have called on the European Commission to prepare for the extension of border controls within the Schengen Area for up to two years. The announcement came from the Dutch Migration Minister at a ministerial meeting organized by the Dutch presidency of the EU in Amsterdam. Representing Romania was Interior Minister Petre Toba. Also in Amsterdam a new European Counter Terrorism Centre was founded under the direct management of the Europol. The new institution is aimed at combating terrorism at European level by intensifying the exchange of information between member states. Its activity will mainly focus on European young people leaving to join terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq. According to Europol Director Rob Wainwright, an estimated 5,000 ‘foreign fighters have joined such groups.

The anti-smoking law is constitutional

The law banning smoking in public spaces in Romania observes the Constitution, the Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday. The Court thus dismissed the notification previously filed by several Senators across the political spectrum. Adopted in December by the Chamber of Deputies, the law forbids smoking in enclosed public areas, at the workplace, around childrens playgrounds, in health care and education institutions, as well as in all child protection and assistance buildings.

The New Moldovan Prime Minister visits Bucharest

The new Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Pavel Filip has paid the first official visit of his mandate to Bucharest. Pavel Filip met with president Klaus Iohannis and held talks with his Romanian counterpart Dacian Ciolos. Pavel Filip said the political context in Moldova was very delicate, although his Government wants to prove its pro-European aspirations. The Moldovan PM also expressed his gratitude for Romanian authorities important support for Chisinau. Bucharest has announced it would give Moldova a 150-million-euro loan in three installments, the first worth 60 million euros, provided Chisinau implements measures proving the will to reform.

(Translated by V. Palcu)