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European Commission First Vice-President: Concerns about Romania are Growing

The European Commission’s first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, told Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila that concerns throughout the EU are growing in regards to the state of the rule of law in Romania, in a meeting the two had on Wednesday.
European Commission First Vice-President: Concerns about Romania are Growing
Ionut Preda
06 mart. 2019, 19:15, English

According to a statement issued by the institution, the two officials had an “honest and open discussion”, during which the Commission official expressed concern with how recent judicial amendments might affect the rule of law.

The two officials also agreed to a meeting between Romanian and European Commission experts to discuss the subject.

This was the first meeting between Dancila and Timmermans following the Party of European Socialists (PES) Congress in February, where images appeared to show the EU official avoiding the Romanian PM. During the event, Timmermans also criticized judicial amendments made by Romania’s ruling coalition and warned Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea that he must respect the values of European socialists if he wants to continue being part of the group.

Previously, the Commission first vice-president sent Dancila a letter in which expressed concern with judicial reform in Romania, and requested the prime minister to abstain from any measures which would imperil progresses made by the country concerning the rule of law since its accession.

At the PES Congress, Timmermans was nominated as the European socialists’ candidate for the office of European Commission chairman following the upcoming European Parliament elections.