Judicial reform and anti-corruption work: Romania’s progress

A specific monitoring mechanism known as the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) was set up in 2007 in the context of the accession of Romania to the European Union to monitor its progress in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption.

ACT

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: On Progress in Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (COM(2015) 35 final of 28 January 2015).

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: On Progress in Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (COM(2014) 37 final of 22 January 2014).

SUMMARY

The European Commission (EC) reports of 2014 and 2015 describe the progress made by Romania in those specific areas since 2012 and 2013.

KEY POINTS

The CVM includes four specific criteria to address Romania’s deficiencies in judicial reform, integrity and the fight against high-level corruption, as well as the prevention and fight against corruption in the public sector.

The main objective is to set up a regular reporting process so as to ensure that standards in such areas are met and satisfactorily fulfilled and to assist Romania in remedying weaknesses pointed out by the CVM.

Progress reports of 2014 and 2015

The 2014 report presents the EC’s analysis of the steps Romania has taken since the 2012 and 2013 reports (the latter was published after the nomination of a new government).

The main conclusion of the 2014 report is that Romania has made progress in the key judicial and integrity institutions, even in difficult political circumstances.

However, the report points out:

• specific problems regarding judicial independence;
• resistance to applying integrity and anti-corruption measures;
• political interference in key judicial appointments.

The 2015 report also shows specific steps taken to address high-level corruption, creating increased confidence amongst Romanians about the judiciary and anti-corruption prosecution.

Main recommendations

The EC invites Romania to consolidate and secure the work done. Whilst the implementation of the Codes (Civil, Civil Procedure, Criminal and Criminal Procedure) has shown productive developments, new steps lie in wait for judicial independence and judicial reform.

Other improvements are necessary to:

• ensure integrity to avoid any conflict of interest in public procurement;
• create a more efficient and systematic approach in the fight against corruption through prevention and dissuasive sanctions.

The EC also insists on more coherence in Court and Parliament decisions (for example, treating parliamentarians as ordinary citizens).

To support Romania, the monitoring process of the CVM will continue to benefit from EU funds and constructive support from the EC and other EU countries.

See also the EC Secretariat-General’s website on CVM, the Romanian CVM website and the 2014 and 2015 Commission press releases.

BACKGROUND

In the context of Romania’s accession to the EU in 2007, further progress was asked of this country in areas such as judicial reform and the fight against corruption. A specific framework was established to monitor the progress made by Romania in these areas through the CVM. An equivalent process is under way in regard to Bulgaria.

The CVM process is based on an assessment of progress by Romania’s authorities and on information delivered by EU countries, international organisations, independent experts and other sources.

RELATED ACTS

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: On Progress in Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (COM(2012) 410 final of 18 July 2012).

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: On Progress in Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (COM(2013) 47 final of 30 January 2013).

last update 21.03.2015