Brussels, 20/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini urges Romania to adopt the law on the creation of a National Integrity Agency as soon as possible. The agency has the task of verifying the origin of assets belonging to ministers and elected representatives. “It is absolutely important that Parliament approve the proposal very soon”, he said, after meeting senior Romanian officials on 16 and 17 March. His visit comes as Bucharest is to present to the European Commission a follow-up report before 31 March in the field of justice and the fight against corruption. In June, it will be the Commission's turn to forward to the European Parliament and to the Council its comments and conclusions on reports presented by Romania and also Bulgaria. If the National Integrity Agency is not created by that date, Romania could have sanctions imposed on it, mainly through the imposition of safeguard measures (EUROPE 9335). Although he did not predict what the final outcome would be, Mr Frattini stressed during his meeting with President Traian Basescu - Justice and Truth Alliance (DA) - that political decision-makers should pursue their efforts to combat corruption. According to the NGO, Transparency International, the country still appears at the top of the table of European countries where corruption is the most embedded (EUROPE 9324). The Commissioner also renewed his appeal for the entry into force of a new criminal code. He welcomed Romania's decision to sign up to the Prüm Treaty, which allows strengthened collaboration between member state police forces (EUROPE 9365). In his view, Romania is able to play a “leading role” in the Western Balkans and in the defence of the Black Sea. Mr Frattini openly stated his confidence in the work carried out by the justice and home affairs ministers, Monica Macovei and Vasile Blaga respectively, who belong to the Democrat Party (DP). A number of officials did not hesitate to describe this as interference in national politics. Both ministers are now in the hot seat after having refused to co-sign a decree supported by Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Taariceanu (PNL) last week, calling for European elections scheduled for 13 May this year to be postponed. (bc)