RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

European institutions and the fight against corruption

The European Parliament held a hearing on Tuesday on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism with regard to Romania and Bulgaria.

European institutions and the fight against corruption
European institutions and the fight against corruption

, 15.04.2015, 13:49

The European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control on Tuesday heard a series of Romanian and Bulgarian officials on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism to assess their commitments to judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime. The mechanism has been in place since 2007, when the two countries joined the European Union. Previous annual reports, while encouraging, have not led to the elimination of the mechanism.



The debate in the European Parliament was held at the request of Romania, which believes its success in fighting corruption should be acknowledged and a clear timetable should be established regarding its entry into the passport-free Schengen area. Attending the hearing were Romania’s justice minister Robert Cazanciuc and the chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi, who is seen as somewhat of a justice hero after her institution last year issued 12 requests for the prosecution of ministers and former ministers.



The data presented by the Romanian officials impressed the members of the European Parliament committee, who say Romania has made progress with regard to the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. MEP Monica Macovei, a member of the European People’s Party, who opened the debates, even said Romania’s judicial bodies are an example for many other countries. The Secretary General of the European Commission, Catherine Day, hailed Romania’s progress saying, however, that efforts must continue, in particular with regard to fighting low-level corruption. Some of Romania’s representatives in the debates, whether MEPs representing the ruling Social Democratic Party or the National Liberal Party in opposition, denounced the fact that Romania’s entry into the Schengen area continues to be unjustly linked to a mechanism which, in their opinion, should apply to all EU member states or to none at all.



In another development, an assessment report from the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption published on Tuesday indicates that Romania has satisfactorily implemented only 7 of the 20 recommendations laid down in the Group’s previous report from 2010.

Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe
The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Toni Grebla
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Election campaigns in Romania

    The campaign for the general election in Romania started last week, at midnight on Thursday, and will end on 30 November. During this...

Election campaigns in Romania
November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
(Photo: pixabay@Engin_Akyurt)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Challenges of an ageing population

Romanians are getting fewer and older.   The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to...

Challenges of an ageing population

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