The reform of the Romanian judiciary is marred by stagnation and even regression as the fight against corruption is blocked by political and legislative attacks on anti-graft bodies, a report of the Initiative for Clean Justice, a Romanian civil society initiative, says. Politicians in the Parliament and the Government as well as representatives of the Justice Ministry, the High Court and the Superior Council of Magistrates have systematically and consciously blocked reform and anti-graft attempts, the report says.

The document is published ten days before a key European Commission evaluation of the progress of Romanian justice reform. The report is coordinated by Freedom House Romania and supported by eight NGOs.

It says reform measures are not implemented according to promises made towards the European Commission and that justice in Romania is subject to increasing political pressure.

It also says that ethical standards imposed by the Superior Council of Magistrates for the Romanian judiciary are disobeyed and the Council remains an institution which does not answer to anybody and makes key decisions in a non-transparent way.

The report also warns that changes to the Penal Procedure Code risk to jeopardize the capacity of the whole European Union to fight organized crime and terrorism and annul the credibility of Romania in the sector.