Romania, Bulgaria Gained Reform Momentum, Monitoring Continues Under CMV – EC

Laitenberger said the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CMV) is working and produces results and both monitored countries have gained momentum in implementing reforms.

Laitenberger added the EC outlined 16 recommendations to Romania.

The European Commission adopted Wednesday the progress reports on progress made in the justice sector and fight against corruption in Romania and Bulgaria.

The report indicates conditions are not met for triggering safeguard clauses, but monitoring will continue under the CMV and the Commission’s next report will be issued in the summer of 2010.

The report states Romania has gained momentum in achieving reform but, to be able to demonstrate sustained progress, the judicial reform process should not be politicized. The report also states Romania is still struggling with the legacy of a sometimes ambiguous constitution and the fact that its Civil and Criminal Codes were never fully revised.

The Commission recommends the timely follow up by judicial and disciplinary bodies to cases submitted by the National Integrity Agency concerning unjustified wealth, incompatibilities and conflicts of interest and invites Romania to assess the impact of the two legal codes and carry out a proper public debate on the criminal and civil procedure codes, which should be adopted as soon as possible.