On Tuesday 13 November, MEPs are to adopt a draft resolution in Strasbourg on the rule of law situation in Romania, the same day that the Commission presents its annual reports as part of the cooperation and verification mechanism (CVM) in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption.
Dated Wednesday 7 November, the second draft resolution, concocted by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and EFDD Groups on the basis of a plenary debate held in October, adopts a critical tone.
The Parliament is "very concerned" at the fact that the draft reform of the judicial system in Romania may weaken the independence of the judicial system and its capacity to fight corruption effectively, as well as the "rule of law" in the country, the draft text, seen by EUROPE, states.
The MEPs, who draw on the specific recommendations of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission (see EUROPE 12122), urge the Romanian authorities to suspend all measures that would decriminalise corruption, and to review the Romanian legislation on the financing and activities of NGOs, which has "a potentially intimidating effect on civil society".
More generally, the MEPs call on the European Commission to publish its annual reports again on the state of corruption in all the member states. They ask for a regular, systematic and objective follow up and dialogue as regards respect for fundamental values and the rule of law in all member states.
The rule of law situation in Romania, governed by the social democrat party, has nothing to do with that observed in Poland and Hungary, Maria João Rodrigues (S&D, Portugal) told a few journalists on Thursday 8 November. In her view, the ongoing reform of the judicial sector is especially aimed at accompanying, 30 years later, the transition of the judicial system under Ceaușescu's dictatorship towards a totally democratic system. And the attitude of the Romanian government should be praised, she says, as "a good example of good cooperation between the national and European levels".
The draft resolution can be consulted at: http://bit.ly/2RHoptu. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)