19th July 2012
Romania’s CVM report – the bigger picture
Yesterday the Commission published its five year reports on Romania and Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. The CVM monitors and supports reforms undertaken by both countries to strengthen the rule of law, reform the judiciary and tackle corruption.
The Commission sets out its concerns about the recent political crisis in Romania. William Hague did the same when he met Victor Ponta on Tuesday and, like the President of the European Commission, also welcomed the Romanian Prime Minister’s assurances and actions to address those concerns.
The report is not just about recent events. It looks at the wider picture, and the progress Romania has made since it joined the EU five years ago. Some particular points stand out for me.
Firstly, that determined steps are being taken to prosecute and convict those guilty of corruption. The Commission is right to highlight the performance of Romania’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutors, the DNA, as “one of the most significant advances made in Romania since accession”.
Secondly, whereas in previous reports the Commission had been concerned at the delays in the courts, this time the High Court is rightly commended for promoting best practice in the efficient and rigorous management of trials. The Superior Council of Magistrates has played its part too in defending the independence of the judiciary when this was being threatened.
Romania needs to build on this record of success, to implement the remaining reforms under the benchmarks and to establish a clear, sustainable and irreversible track record of tackling corruption. It’s really important that the different institutions support each other to do this – for example that the findings of the National Integrity Agency (ANI) are followed up by the prosecutors and the courts.
And Romania’s politicians, of all parties, have a particular responsibility. The Parliament needs to put its own house in order. It is extraordinary that convicted felons can still sit as MPs. The National Anti-Corruption Strategy, adopted by the Government and by the Parliament, gives a good framework to make the necessary reforms. As the European Council has commented in the past, a coherent approach by all the various institutions – executive, legislature, judiciary – is the key to successful reform.
We recognise the size of the challenge and will of course continue to support the Justice Ministry, judiciary and civil society strongly on both justice reform and the fight against corruption by offering advice and technical assistance. Our most recent projects include funding two online platforms which report bribery in the health sector and illegal logging. We are also supporting Romania, through our Serious Organised Crime Agency, to build an effective asset recovery regime.
Thank you, Mr. Hague, thank you Mr. Harris -Y.E’s.- for the up front, sincere and extremely valuable points. It is a dangerous situation you are objectively addressing, with the democratic state & institutions looking like a rickety mechanism under threat of falling apart. You are seeing, as external observers, the situation better than we do and we feel better assured with your input stated publicly. Good luck in your global respectively Romanian missions!
Your Excellency,
Some time ago, I asked you – here, on your blog – to comment on Mr. Cioroboatca’s request to deny visas for those MPs who syspended Basescu, only to see, now, that my comment has … vanished!? I hope this one does not, cause I am still interested in your response.
Best regards,
IMPascu, MEP
I am sorry I didn’t see your earlier post. This must have been a technical hitch. On Mr Cioroboatca’s comment, I can only stress that my position throughout has been that it is for Romania’s Constitutional Court to judge on the legality of different actions and that its decisions must be respected.
Your Exellency
People in Poland admire Romania for changing the proportional election system of Parliament to the majority system used by the British, called FPTP. Last British referendum showed that 70 percent of voters supported this system. The results of scientific study presented that the same percent of followers in Poland, agree with single member district to parliament election. FPTP is the best system to eliminate corruption.
Changing the election system is a great step for ward to a better democracy in Romania.
With great respect
Mariusz Wis
President James Madison Foundation Centre Growth of Democracy
Your Excellency,
I could not agree more with your support for the Romanian civil society in their fight against corruption. It has to be recognised in this context that in May 2012 they made a significant positive step forward by adopting our FPTP voting system which makes each elected representative indvidually accountable. It is the ability of citizens to remove the corrupt politician with ease, more even than the ability to choose a new government, that is the most important virtue of our way of voting here in the UK. The method of electing MPs is infinitely more important than any “National Anti-Corruption Strategy”. Only a true representative, who acts under the watchful eyes of his or her consituents, can hold government institutions to their principles, effectively monitor their conduct and withdraw his or her support should any indications arise that these principles are corrupted.
Unfortunately, on 27 June 2012 the Romanian High Court ruled this new voting system unconstitutional. Should we not express our surprise?
Tom Kazmierski,
Southampton
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
Thank you!
Mr. Ambassador, a big THANK YOU please keep the pressure and our politicians, unfortunately they didn’t yet reach the level of maturity required in a democracy.
Your Excellency
I think that Britain would not allow someone to teach democracy.
As rhetorical questions:
-Where were You, when Roberta Anastase steal votes in the Romanian Parliament
-Where were You, when Basescu called a journalist “stinky Gypsy”
-Where were You, when Traian Basescu, after the 2008 election, refused to give, at the parliamentary majority, prime minister, who was proposed, Klaus Johannis
-Where were You, when Traian Basescu, exposed by Mr. Gabriel Stefanescu, body control head of government, Basescu retaliated against, sacking him that fair and brave officer.
-Where were You, when those violations against were all legality Romanian and European
Thank you, Your Excellency
for being being with us, concerned about the political evolution in our country!
As citizen, I’m very worried about our democratic future. I’m also
ashamed about the recent decisions taken by the current majority in our Parliament and about the Government actions against the rule of law. Those people does not represent us! Your help is so much needed, in order to keep our democracy and freedom .
Hopefully, we’ll be able to pass these dark days.
Thank you for your solidarity and for your attitude!
Best regards!
Mr Harris, can I kindly remind you the first two articles of the Romanian Constitution:
http://www.cdep.ro/pls/dic/site.page?den=act2_1&par1=1#t1c0s0a2
ARTICOLUL 1
(1) România este stat naţional, suveran şi independent, unitar şi indivizibil.
(2) Forma de guvernământ a statului român este republica.
(3) România este stat de drept, democratic şi social, în care demnitatea omului, drepturile şi libertăţile cetăţenilor, libera dezvoltare a personalităţii umane, dreptatea şi pluralismul politic reprezintă valori supreme, în spiritul tradiţiilor democratice ale poporului român şi idealurilor Revoluţiei din decembrie 1989, şi sunt garantate.
(4) Statul se organizează potrivit principiului separaţiei şi echilibrului puterilor – legislativă, executivă şi judecătorească – în cadrul democraţiei constituţionale.
(5) În România, respectarea Constituţiei, a supremaţiei sale şi a legilor este obligatorie.
Suveranitatea ARTICOLUL 2
(1) Suveranitatea naţională aparţine poporului român, care o exercită prin organele sale reprezentative, constituite prin alegeri libere, periodice şi corecte, precum şi prin referendum.
(2) Nici un grup şi nici o persoană nu pot exercita suveranitatea în nume propriu.
THANK YOU that EUROPE EXISTS !
Dear Mr. Ambassador Martin Harris,
Please send all western chancelleries proposal that all MPs who voted anti-constitutional changes of recent laws in Romania be prohibited from entry without a visa in the western area.
With great respect,
Radu Ciorobatca
Thank you Mr. Ambassador!
You must continue to increase the pressure on Romanian authorities, in order to fully implement and follow exactly the same rules as EU countries.
It’s hard after 50 years of communism to get there on our foots only. We need lots of help, it’s clear now that 22 years of post-communism are not enough without strong pressure and continuous assistance.
We’ll see the results I hope soon.
Your Excellency,
I urge You to name one single finally and irrevocably convicted member of the Romanian Parliament still in function.
I think that the point is that *one should not wait* for “irrevocable conviction” to resign from the parliament or official positions. The parliament and parties should commit themselves to integrity and ethics standards beside those from justice.
Take for example the scandal of Mr. Severin (and others) from the EU Parliament — all the others resigned (without waiting for irrevocable conviction), Mr. Severin did not resign, even if he was expelled from the Socialist Political Group from EU.
http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/eu-parliament-launches-probe-into-cash-for-laws-meps/#.UAsQxkB1DfM
Your Excellency,
A heart-felt THANK YOU for all you and your staff have done for Romania and its citizens over the last couple of days and weeks!
Unfortunately, as you well know, we are still powerless against the might of the Communists/Securitate who still rule us and abuse us and the State. To stay out of gaol, to protect their ill-gotten gains, they have tried to sacrifice not just our Justice system but even the principles of the rule of law!
Without your support, and without the support of the rest of the EU, we are completely lost!
Please continue to help Romania become a democratic country, where the rule of law prevails!
Best wishes, and thanks again!
Ionuţ