EC Asks Romania To Correct Integrity Agency Law, Install Full Public Procurement Transparency

The EC notes in its report Romania must correct the law on the integrity agency in line with its commitments taken upon and ensure a continued effective contribution of the agency to the prevention and sanctioning of corruption by issuing mandatory decision on unjustified wealth on the basis of which dissuasive sanctions can be taken.

The EC also recommends the correction of any other procedural deficiencies identified in the new law and the further promotion of the agency through amendments to the legal provisions on the National Integrity Council.

The report also recommends the monitoring of the consistency and dissuasiveness of sanctions applied by the courts in high-level corruption cases and implement measures to improve the celerity of high level corruption trials.

Another recommendation regarding the country's fight against corruption is that Romania should strengthen the general anti-corruption policy and ensure the legal and institutional stability of the anti-corruption framework, including in the implementation of the new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

Also in the corruption-related chapter, the Commission notes the need for Romania to install full transparency on its public procurement processes and suggests the country could consider a prohibition for senior civil servants and elected representatives to benefit directly or indirectly from commercial contracts concluded in the name of their institution.

The report also recommends Romania should evaluate the effectiveness of competent authorities regarding the implementation of public procurement legislation and implement corrective actions aiming at better coordinating the various institutions and improving their efficiency.

Romania is also encouraged to establish performance benchmarks for competent authorities in the following areas and monitor their implementation: prevention activities, control activities, sanctioning of conflict of interest, inter-institutional cooperation and cooperation with judicial authorities.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.