In its interim report on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, published Wednesday, the EC says that, since July 2011, “there have been 5 convictions in first instance against 13 defendants in public procurement cases.”
“Regarding offences committed against the financial interests of the European Union, there have been 5 final convictions and 4 non final convictions since July. The importance of public procurement in the Romanian economy suggests that a special effort is needed to ensure that cases are taken forward efficiently and expeditiously,” says the report.
The Commission also says “improving financial and accountancy expertise among magistrates and increasing the availability of qualified external experts remain necessary to ensure the efficiency of court proceedings” and “a proactive approach to developing consistent jurisprudence in public procurement trials would also help to ensure that cases can be brought successfully to court.”
“To address weaknesses in judicial practice in high-level corruption trials, several seminars, meetings and training sessions have been organised by the National Institute of Magistracy and the High Court, supported by [the National Anticorruption Department],” says the report. The Commission notes that such initiatives should be consolidated into a comprehensive action plan, to improve judicial practice in high-level corruption.
“Romania has prepared a comparative analysis of practice in other Member States regarding the procedure for lifting immunity of Members of Parliament and included the issue in the draft new National Anti-Corruption Strategy. As the competent authority to adopt new rules, the Parliament now needs to take this issue forward,” the EC says.