Romania appears to be backsliding in its judicial reforms, the European Commission said on Wednesday, underlining its concerns that the country could be a potential domino after Hungary and Poland with their autocratic governments.
Plans by the Social Democrat-led ruling coalition to overhaul the judiciary and change legislation to potentially decriminalise several graft offences have drawn criticism from the EU, the U.S. State Department and Romanian magistrates, and have triggered large street protests.
European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans said it was a worrying development for the rule of law in the Romania, who joined the 28-member bloc in 2007.
"We have seen substantial progress in the past but things are now moving backwards in a way that would be damaging for the place that Romania has built as an EU member state in recent years," said Timmermans.
"The climate needed for reforms has deteriorated due to the secret protocols between the prosecution and the intelligence services. I call on the Romanian authorities to conduct full and impartial investigations of this issue," said the Vice President of the Commission.
"Romanians deserve a law enforcement order with all authorities properly supervised and full judicial independence," he added.
Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila dismissed the criticism by saying "do not deny Romania things that are permitted to other member states of the (European) Union and do not allow things to happen in Romania that would be unacceptable in other member states".
"We want to be a partner but we want to be equal partners. No one will ever be able to turn Romania back from its european road," underscored the Romanian PM.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, Reuters