EU experts to investigate Romania's fight against corruption

Luni, 19 mai 2008, 19:53 English | Top News

European Commission experts have arrived in Bucharest for an official visit to evaluate Romania's judicial reforms in the fight against corruption. Justice minister Catalin Predoiu met on Monday with the anti-graft prosecutors' head and assured him that the ministry will support their work in the fight against corruption. However, Romania registered several drawbacks in this sector: high corruption cases seem to be locked in the Parliament and the Constitutional Court seems to favor special interests. 

Romania needs to comply with a series of commitments in the justice sector, the so called benchmarks considered to be top priorities for any judicial reform. The first benchmark regards the consolidation of transparency and efficiency within the judicial system. However, magistrates oftentimes find themselves eager to postpone any decisions in high corruption cases in order to protect private interests.

Romania also needs to improve its civil and penal procedures but the public debate initiated on these issues seems to be locked at ministry level. Moreover, Romania needs to continue the progress already registered in investigated high corruption cases. However, all files investigated are blocked in the Parliament.

Romania's last benchmark concerns its commitment to adopt supplementary measures to prevent and counter corruption acts within local administrations. However, this year's electoral campaign seems to be focused on anything than fighting corruption.