Frattini: Romania Should Not Be Slammed Over Justice System

“To be honest, I don’t believe Romania and Bulgaria should be penalized. The Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (MCV) aims to help and encourage, not penalize or monitor or supervise. Romania is a full member of the EU and we must have a fair, clear and transparent treatment,” Frattini told a press conference at the end of a Romanian-Italian summit.

 

Frattini said he is not familiar with all the documents analyzed by the European Commission, but Italy will help Romania “anyway”, because it is not fair to “threaten, penalize, and point the finger, particularly at a time when the EU states need help.”

 

“If the MCV is interpreted fairly, as a mechanism to help Romania with the reform process, than it is all right. Otherwise, it will turn into a mechanism to point the finger and it would be best to be stopped,” Frattini added.

 

The European Commission will present an annual report regarding Romania and Bulgaria’s progress in the fight against corruption and a separate report on the management of EU funds in the two countries, EC spokesman Mark Gray said last week.

 

However, Gray did not forward a date for the release of the reports.