Romanian PM Emil Boc defended the need for a new law on the functioning of the National Agency for Integrity (ANI) - a key body responsible with keeping in check the wealth of public officials - to be transparent.

He said before the Senate on Tuesday that the ANI Law is a law for Romania and in favor of transparency when it comes to the wealth of officials, as it did not belong to a party or to the government, but to the country.

He made the statement before the Senate, which convened in extraordinary session to discuss, among others, the new ANI law, which was conceived after the prior law on the functioning of ANI was declared unconstitutional.

According to Emil Boc, the bill is of national interest and in the interest of Romania's obligations as a EU member country.