Romanian President Basescu To Request Special Parliament Session On Integrity Agency Bill

The President said the session’s agenda should feature the ANI law and will also include the bill whereby trials would no longer be suspended on account of exceptions of unconstitutionality, as well as the „law of small reform” in the justice system, currently pending authorization by the High Council of Magistrates.

According to the President, the bill whereby trials would continue when exceptions of unconstitutionality are raised has been tacitly adopted by the Chamber of Deputies and has been under the Senate’s debate since December 2009.

Basescu said he decided to request the Parliament session after the European Commission report on the Romanian justice system was published.

„If the Parliament convenes in a special session and these three laws pass, Romania could avoid being questioned about problems in the justice system when the decision about Schengen Area accession is made,” said Basescu.

The President had said earlier that he is „worried” about Romania’s chances of being accepted into the Schengen Area, in light of the European Commission’s report, although the seven reports on the country’s fulfillment of the accession criteria so far have been positive.

The next report is scheduled for November 2010. Romania aims to join the Schengen Area in March 2011.