RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism on Romania

Romania is on the right track in fighting corruption and reforming its legal system and must carry on.

The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism on Romania
The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism on Romania

, 29.01.2015, 13:42

Predominantly positive, but…there is room for improvement! That is the main conclusion of the European Commission Report on Romania’s progress in fighting corruption and reforming the judiciary, which praised the efforts undertaken and the achievements of the authorities in Bucharest, whose lassitude had attracted heat from the European institutions in the past.



According to relevant minister Robert Cazanciuc, this report is the best in the past eight years, since the European forums started monitoring EU member Romania under what we know as the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, in short CVM.



Efforts undertaken by National Anti-corruption Directorate, the National Integrity Agency, the High Court of Cassation and Justice and the Higher Council of Magistrates have been acknowledged by the 2014 report. The document focused on grand corruption cases, which led to the detention of leading figures from Romania’s political stage and administration. Also noteworthy was these institutions’ ability to carry on under constant political pressure.



Robert Cazanciuc “The Impressive results obtained by the judicial institutions in the anti-corruption fight, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the National Integrity Agency, the DNA, the Public Ministry have been acknowledged. Also remarkable is the stand of the Higher Council of Magistrates, which struggled for the independence of the country’s legal system, fighting back any moves against justices, prosecutors and institutions in general.”



The report levels criticism though against the present Legislature. Fingers have been pointed at the MPs’ decisions to block criminal investigations against several dignitaries, the endorsement of certain laws with a view to slowing down the fight against corruption and their delay in passing the legislation that could streamline the judicial mechanism. In a quick response, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Social-Democrat Valeriu Zgonea agreed to a simplified immunity-lifting procedure for the Romanian MPs. On one condition only:



Valeriu Zgonea “We have to do away with the requirement for Parliament approval for lifting the MPs’ immunity. I personally agree, but we cannot do that without amending the Constitution.”



So there is still a lot to be done to insure irreversibility in the process of reforming justice and fighting corruption, mainly for the benefit of society and its citizens, as Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has put it. On Wednesday, when the report was published, the Romanian president invited the representatives of parliamentary political parties for talks. All of them have voiced readiness for streamlining procedures for the detention, arrest or searching of the MPs. Until the next CVM report, which is to be presented within a year, Romania has plenty of time to comply with the recommendations of the European Commission.

Photo: ©European Union, 2017, Source: EC - Audiovisual Service Photographer: Mauro Bottaro
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty

It’s been 20 years since Romania signed its EU accession treaty, which allowed it to officially become a member of the European Union on 1st...

The 20th anniversary of a historic treaty
Credits: Facebook/Sorin Grindeanu
Today in the News Monday, 28 April 2025

Additional bridges over Prut River

Romania and the Republic of Moldova will soon be connected by a new bridge over the Prut. The new bridge, for which construction works started last...

Additional bridges over Prut River
Mircea Fechet (Photo: gov.ro)
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget

The Environment Fund Administration this year received from the government a record budget for investments, worth over 3.2 billion euros. The money...

The Environment Fund Administration gets record budget
Minister of Education and research, Daniel David
Today in the News Friday, 25 April 2025

Measures for the Romanian education

During Thursday’s meeting, the Romanian government discussed several laws related to education. They established the legal framework for...

Measures for the Romanian education
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions

There are several occupational categories in Romania whose employees are usually retiring under the age of 50 and whose pensions aren’t exclusively...

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank

According to its latest report, the World Bank expects growth in developing economies in Europe and Central Asia to slow down to 2.5% in 2025-2026...

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

From budget deficit to governmental debt

  The Romanian finance ministry reiterates Romania’s commitment to meet the 7% of GDP deficit target at the end of the year, and promises...

From budget deficit to governmental debt
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Romanian – German Friendship Day

A year ago, former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, himself an ethnic German from Transylvania, promulgated the Law establishing April 21 as...

Romanian – German Friendship Day

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