Romania cannot, unilaterally, give up the monitoring mechanism on Justice on the contrary, the decision rests in the hands of the Commission, EC Spokesperson Mark Gray declared for RFI. These statements follow Romania’s Foreign Affairs minister who warned that Romania might unilaterally give up the mechanismif it is used as a pressure in other sectors.

EC’s Spokesperson Mark Gray declared on Tuesday, January 4th that according to procedures the monitoring mechanism can only be ceased based on the Commission’s decision after the fourth pillars of judicial reform are correlated. He underlined that the Commission is the one to decide on the matter.

In an interview for Romanian daily Adevarul, Romania’s Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi said that Romania can condition Croatia’s joining the EU and can denounce unilaterally the monitoring mechanism on justice if it is used as a pressure in other sectors and it becomes a handicap for Romania.