On Wednesday 21 February, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Romania's new prime minister, Viorica Dăncilă, spoke about the turmoil raised by certain Romanian judicial projects aimed at reforming the fight against corruption in the country (see EUROPE 11956 and 11951).
Juncker gave assurances that he was not particularly concerned about the situation in Romania as regards the rule of law, unlike the concern the Commission has with other countries, like Poland or Hungary. He nevertheless deplored the taking of liberties with the rule of law by certain political circles, and wanted to avoid the impression being given of this democratic principle being threatened. He said he was confident in the current judicial system.
"Everything is fine", Juncker assured, not wanting the Romanian judicial system to be put to the test.
Dăncilă gave assurances that her country would cooperate in complete transparency with the European level, while wanting the cooperation and verification mechanisms (CVM) on corruption and judicial reforms to cease to be applied when her country takes the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in the first half of 2019 (see EUROPE 11905).
Joining the Schengen free area of movement by end of 2019. "We also hope that it will be under the Juncker presidency that we can talk about joining Schengen. We have fulfilled all the conditions", Dăncilă stated, supported in this by Juncker, who said that the CVM, which also apply to Bulgaria, will have to stop by the end of 2019.
The two leaders also wanted an agreement to be found under the Romanian Presidency on the European financial perspectives, and this would be with a view to the informal European summit in Sibiu on the future of the EU27 that is scheduled for 9 May 2019, after Brexit. The Romanian leader also underlined the importance that agricultural and cohesion policies have for her country (see other article). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)