On Wednesday, the Commission adopted its annual report on Romania’s progress under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM). The press release makes several remarks on the report.
“Despite Romania’s progress, the report concludes that the objectives of the CVM have not yet been met. Implementation of laws has just started in some areas, whilst in other areas ownership falls short and overall the process is not yet sustainable and irreversible,” reads the press release.
The current controversies regarding the observance of the rule of law pose a serious threat to the progress achieved so far and to the future of the reforms already launched, said the source.
Many of the building blocks in the legislative framework are now in place and the focus is shifting to implementation, the EC said.
“Romania has created the basis for a substantial modernization of the Romanian judicial system. Institutions like the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) and the National Integrity Agency (ANI) have demonstrated a convincing track record in the pursuit of high-level corruption. Recently, court decisions in high-level corruption cases have effectively handled the most sensitive cases, and the judiciary has shown its ability to affirm its independence,” reads the press release.
CVM was implemented in 2007, when Romania joined the European Union, as an instrument to monitor the country’s progress in the justice sector. The Commission presents yearly CVM reports, an interim report in February and an annual report in July.
EC President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday the Commission will adopt this year a third CVM report on Romania, which will look at whether the country addressed EC concerns about the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.