RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

European Commission Support for Romania

The European Commission urges Romania to carry on with the anti-corruption fight.

European Commission Support for Romania
European Commission Support for Romania

, 07.02.2017, 13:36

On Monday the Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, participated, in Brussels, in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. On the sidelines of this meeting Minister Meleşcanu tried to explain the situation in Bucharest and the EU officials responded promptly. The European Commission believes that Romania needs to make progress in the anti-corruption fight and not to cancel the results obtained so far, the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans told Meleşcanu against the backdrop of the acute tension caused by the attempt of the Government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats to amend the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes through an emergency government decree.



Initiated under the pretext that the current Codes should be harmonized with the Constitutional Court rulings but perceived as a way to shield top politicians and officials from the central and local administration from being prosecuted for corruption, the decree, which was eventually withdrawn, prompted hundreds of thousands of angry Romanians to take to the streets and caused consternation in Brussels. Following his meeting with Frans Timmermans and the European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, minister Meleşcanu told Radio Romania:



There are two conclusions drawn after these talks. Firstly, the European officials expressed appreciation for the government’s decision to repeal the decree that sparked the protests. The European officials both agreed that such amendments should be transparent and discussed in a larger context, prior to reaching Parliament. Secondly, the European Commission showed availability to support Romania in finding the best solutions to keep Romania on the path of democracy”.



Minister Meleşcanu also said that the European Commission was willing to help Romania build new prisons. When asked whether the European officials were concerned with Romania’s vulnerability in the aftermath of the political crisis, minister Meleşcanu answered:



On the contrary, they had a positive approach, and showed availability to cooperate with Romania so that it should consolidate its present status, which is important not only for our region but also for the EU as a whole.”



The spokesperson for the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, pointed out that Brussels was ready to provide Romania with expertise in order to finalize the targets included in the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification in the field of the judiciary. The mechanism was set up upon Romania’s joining the EU and it has been maintained all these years because the Romanian officials did not seem to persuade the EU of their official commitment to combating corruption.


(Translated by L. Simion)

European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Gas consumption in the EU (Credits: magnascan-pixabay-com)
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Photo: roaep.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall, 35 years ago, represented for Romanians an encouragement in their fight for freedom, and the removal of the Iron Curtain...

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall
Today in the News Friday, 15 November 2024

European minimum wage in Romania

The law on the introduction of the European minimum wage in Romania was promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has...

European minimum wage in Romania

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company