Romanian High Council Of Magistrates To Debate EC Justice Report In Sept

Bejinaru said, after a closed-door meeting of the Council, which was also attended by President Traian Basescu, Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu and Prosecutor General Codruta Kovesi, that debates on the conclusions of the analysis will be held during CSM’s plenary meeting in the first week of September.

The European Commission released Tuesday its report on Romania’s justice system and recommended the country to take immediate measures to counter high-level corruption and ensure transparency in the public procurement field.

The European Commission said the country didn’t show sufficient political commitments and its progress has important shortcomings, such as legislative amendments weakening the National Integrity Agency. The EC also recommended Romania to revise the competences of its High Court of Justice and strengthen the role of the country’s National Magistracy Institute.

Basescu urged the coalition government during the Cabinet meeting Wednesday to insist that Parliament adopts a single law regulating the National Integrity Agency, which is currently governed by rules stated in several laws. Basescu said Tuesday he will request a special Parliament session early August, mainly to discuss the integrity agency law, and has sent letters to the leaders of the two chambers of Parliament asking them to schedule a meeting.