Radio România Internațional

Tag: CVM

  • Justice in Romania under the spotlight

    Justice in Romania under the spotlight

    The EC report published on January 25 says the political factor in particular must make efforts to ensure an efficient legal system and recommends the implementation of a robust and independent system for the appointment of top-level prosecutors and clear provisions with regard to the creation of a code of ethics for parliamentarians and the mutual respect between institutions, while also noting that parliamentarians must respect the independence of the legal system.


    What would that report look like if issued now? This is an appropriate question considering that now, less than a week since the document was made public, the new Grindeanu government adopted a controversial emergency ordinance amending the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, in spite of massive street protests, attended by tens of thousands of people. The new emergency ordinance stipulates the decriminalisation of the abuse of office if the damage caused falls below 200,000 lei. It also decriminalises the offence of aiding the offender. The ordinance stipulates that the offence of aiding the offender is also decriminalised if the act is made by a family member, up to a second-degree kin. The Grindeanu government has also drafted a pardon bill, which will be sent to Parliament, in an emergency procedure, says the justice minister. Florin Iordache says the decisions have been made due to overcrowding in prisons, denounced by the European Court of Human Rights and in an effort to harmonise the legislation with some rulings issued by the Constitutional Court.



    The pardon and amnesty do not apply to rapists, to those accused of corruption and violent acts as well as to repeat offenders. In an interview on Radio Romania, the Expert Forum chair, Laura Stefan, has warned, shortly after the MCV report was published, that the measures, only circulated at that time, would become extremely dangerous if adopted. And thats exactly what happened.



    Laura Stefan: “We can see a re-evaluation of Romanias progress in the past 10 years. If you release all the offenders who have been sent to jail in the past 10 years, its only natural that the positive evaluations in this respect turn into negative ones. Besides the criticism attracted by this type of enactment, I believe the worst thing is that the European Commission has seen that Romanias old bad habits, such as the overnight adoption of extremely dangerous laws with a heavy impact on the anti-corruption policies are still a political instrument these days. Actually, the members of the European Commission have already seen this modus operandi in Romania, on what we call the Black Tuesday, or on other occasions when politicians tried to bring overnight amendments to criminal legislation. This is why the European Commission insists on taking mature political actions and we can be confident that Romania becomes a mature country, only after politicians in this country prove they can act accordingly. Unfortunately, we see this problem persists in 2017 as well.



    But how much can civil society, every Romanian citizen, contribute to the progress of the judicial system? Laura Stefan: I believe Romania will become a mature country and the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism will be eliminated only when civil society and the political class learn the ropes of how to talk to each other. Unfortunately, these days the political class does not seem to have an appetite for discussion. I believe this is a mistake and I think that if we approach such a sensitive issue as overcrowding in prisons, there is a real need for this countrys minds to work together to find a solution to the problem. This is necessary because the problem is not easy to solve, it is a multi-faceted issue that cant be solved overnight. Its not going to be solved overnight, not even through these emergency ordinances whose collateral effect is sadly undoing any progress that has been made in the fight against corruption in our country. I believe we all should address such issues more wisely.



    Opposition parties, civil society and the magistrates associations think the aforementioned amendments have been made to benefit influential people in the political class and the administration. Romanias President Klaus Iohannis has described the day the emergency ordinance was passed as a mourning day for the rule of law in Romania, deeming the situation as unacceptable.

  • Nachrichten 25.01.2017

    Nachrichten 25.01.2017

    Rumäniens Präsident Klaus Iohannis hat am Mittwoch im Plenum der Parlamentsversammlung des Europarates auf den Fortbestand demokratischer Gesellschaften hingewiesen. Man brauche demokratische Gesellschaften, in denen die Mehrheiten ihre Rechte nicht mißbrauchen, und in denen der Grundsatz der loyalen und konstruktiven Kooperation zwischen den demokratischen Einrichtungen einwandfrei funktionieren sollte, so Iohannis. In Sachen Schutz und Förderung der nationalen Volksminderheiten sei Rumänien zum europaweit anerkannten Vorbild geworden, sagte der Staatschef noch. Am 6. April wird Iohannis in Bukarest zusammen mit dem Generalsekretär des Europarates, Thorbjorn Jagland, eine Internationale Konferenz über die Rolle der Mehrheit und der Opposition in einer demokratischen Gesellschaft eröffnen. Die Konferenz wird in Zusammenarbeit mit der Venedig-Kommission veranstaltet. Am Dienstag, dem ersten Tag seines Besuches in Straßburg, beteiligte sich der rumänische Präsident an der Zeremonie zum Internationalen Holocaust-Gedenktag. Zu diesem Anlass weihte er eine von Rumänien organisierte Dokumentar- und Fotoausstellung ein. Ebenfalls am Dienstag traf der rumänische Staatsprasident mit rumänischen Beamen des Europarates und Mitgliedern der rumänischen Gemeinde im Elsass zusammen.



    Der Oberste Rat der Richter und Staatsanwälte hat am Mittwoch die Entwürfe für die Eilverordnungen der linksliberalen Regierung über eine geplante Amnestie und die Abschaffung und Änderung bestimmter Straftatbestände negativ begutachtet. Die Untersuchung war vom Justizministerium beantragt worden. Die Verordnungen der neugewählten linksgerichteten Exekutive sehen die vollständige Begnadigung der Gefängnisstrafen von bis zu 5 Jahren inklusive vor. Darüber hinaus könnten die Gefängniszeiten der Insassen halbiert werden, die 60 Jahre oder älter sind. Die Begnadigung wäre durch die Zahlung eines vom Gericht festgelegten Schadenersatzes bedingt, spätestens ein Jahr nach der Freilassung. Die Verordnung soll auch Vorschriften des Strafgesetzbuches ändern. Somit sollen Denunzianten nicht mehr von der strafrechtlichen Haftung entlastet werden, falls sie die Tat nicht innerhalb von sechs Monaten nach ihrer Begehung anzeigen. Außerdem soll der Amtsmissbrauch nur dann eine Straftat bilden, wenn der entstandene Schaden 200.000 Lei (ungefähr 50 Tausend Euro) überschreitet. Am Sonntagabend forderten mehrere zehntausend Menschen der Regierung der Sozial-Demokratischen Partei und der Allianz der Liberalen und Demokraten auf die Verordnungsvorlagen bezüglich der kollektiven Begnadigung und der Entkriminalisierung von Strafakten zu verzichten. Präsident Klaus Iohannis hatte sich am Sonntag den Demonstranten auf der Straßen angeschlossen. Der sozial-demokratische Justizminister Florin Iordache behauptete, dass die Änderungen notwendig seien, um die Frage der Überfüllung der Gefängnisse zu lösen. Außerdem solle die Verordnung die Gesetzgebung an die Beschlüsse des Verfassungsgerichtes anpassen.



    Rumänien verzeichnet weiterhin Fortschritte bei der Reform des Justizsystems und der Bekämpfung der Korruption, steht in dem Bericht der Europäischen Kommission im Rahmen des Kooperations- und Kontrollverfahrens für Rumänien. Allerdings könnten Kritiken seitens der Politiker und der Medien gegenüber den Justizbehörden, vor allem gegen die Nationale Antikorruptionsbehörde DNA, das Vertrauen in die Justiz untergraben, hieß es in dem am Mittwoch in Brüssel vorgelegten Fortschrittsbericht. Die Strafverfahren und die Gerichtsurteile gegen zahlreiche bekannte rumänische Politiker seien das Zeichen für eine allgemein positive Tendenz in Richtung Unabhängigkeit der Justiz in Rumänien. In den 10 Jahren, in denen Rumänien als EU-Mitglied im Rahmen des Kooperations- und Kontrollverfahrens Reformen durchführte, habe es bedeutende Fortschritte im Justizbereich gegeben, steht noch im Bericht der Europäischen Kommission. Der nächste Bericht wird Ende 2017 vorgelegt.



    Die rumänische Regierung wird sich in einer Sitzung am Freitag mit der Haushaltsvorlage für das laufende Jahr auseinandersetzten. Am gleichen Tag soll das Dokument dem Parlament zur Debatte eingereicht werden, kündigte Ministerpräsident Sorin Grindeanu an. Ferner erklärte er, dass den Bereichen Transport, Landwirtschaft, Gesundheit und KMUs das meiste Geld zur Verfügung stehen werde. Reduzierte Etats werden das Präsidialamt und der Nachrichtendienst erhalten, erwähnte Grindeanu.

  • January 25, 2017

    January 25, 2017

    PRESIDENCY – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday addressed the plenary session of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly. This is the central point of the President’s visit to Strasbourg. On Tuesday, Iohannis discussed with the Council’s secretary general, Thorbjorn Jagland, about consolidating the concrete cooperation with this institution. The Romanian President has announced that an international conference on the role of the majority and the opposition in a genuinely democratic society, organised jointly with the Venice Commission, will be held in Bucharest on April the 6th. In turn, Thorbjorn Jagland has hailed the important role that Romania plays as country that holds the presidency of the International Alliance for the Memory of the Holocaust. Iohannis met in Strasbourg with Romanians working at the Council of Europe and with representatives of the Romanian community in the region of Alsace. The head of state also attended a ceremony marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.




    REPORT – The rise of populist politicians in many countries is a reason for concern, according Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index made public today. Corruption and inequality feed off each other, creating a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth, the report says. “In too many countries, people are deprived of their most basic needs and go to bed hungry every night because of corruption, while the powerful and corrupt enjoy lavish lifestyles with impunity,” said José Ugaz, Chair of Transparency International. According to the report, what is urgently needed are deep-rooted systemic reforms that even up the growing imbalance of power and wealth by empowering citizens to stop the widespread impunity for corruption, hold the powerful to account, and have a real say in the decisions that affect their daily lives.




    LAWS – Romania’s Higher Council of Magistracy, at the request of the Justice Ministry, is today looking into the draft emergency orders proposed by the government, on granting collective pardon and revising the Criminal Code. The Social Democratic Justice Minister, Florin Iordache, says that these emergency orders are needed in order to ease overcrowding in prisons. The countrys prosecutor general, the chief anti-corruption prosecutor, the Supreme Court, and the chief of the directorate fighting organised crime, as well as magistrates associations and civil rights groups are firmly against the move, arguing that there is a lack of transparency as to the legal framework regarding offences such as corruption, abuse of power and integrity. Tens of thousands of people marched the streets of the capital Bucharest on Sunday in protest at the government’s recent plans.




    EC REPORT — Romania continues to make progress in reforming its judicial system and in fighting corruption, but the criticism levelled by politicians and the media at the judicial institutions, the National Anti Corruption Directorate in particular, risks undermining general trust in justice. This statement is part of the European Commission’s report on the progress made by Romania within the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), presented today in Brussels. According to the document, the prosecution and conviction of Romanian top-level politicians proves that the judiciary’s tendency towards independence is positive.




    INTELLIGENCE SERVICE – The Commission for the control of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) is today hearing the institution’s leaders in relation to the Florian Coldea case and the SRI’s budget. We remind you that at the request of the SRI chief, Eduard Hellvig, the first deputy director of this institution, general Florian Coldea, was put in reserve, after he had previously asked that. According to a release of the Intelligence Service, Coldea took this decision for reasons of “dignity and military honour, and the risk of bringing serious damage to the institution’s work.” The move comes after a series of allegations against him launched by runaway Romanian businessman Sebastian Ghita. A SRI internal investigation found Coldea not guilty.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)


  • The Week in Review 08-14.01 2017

    The Week in Review 08-14.01 2017

    Harsh winter in Romania



    The blizzard, snowfalls and ensuing cold hitting Romania this week have left many dead, thousands of people stranded and disrupted road, rail and air traffic. Schools and kindergartens have been shut down, and some villages have been cut off from the power grid. The most affected regions were the south and the east. Temperatures dropped to minus 32 degrees Celsius in central regions, with minus 20 degrees reported in Bucharest. The streets of the capital city were blocked by snow and public transportation has been severely affected. The situation on the Danube River has become dramatic, as the water flow has hit dangerously low levels. The authorities have temporarily shut down segments of the river, due to the drifting ice that might put ships in danger. The cold snap brought along historic lows in terms of temperature and historic highs in terms of energy consumption, with the countrys both natural gas and electricity supply systems working at full tilt. For this reason the Government passed an ordinance banning the electricity exports in emergency situations over the period January 16 – February 15.



    The state budget for 2017



    President Klaus Iohannis has met with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu and Finance Minister Viorel Stefan to discuss the draft budget for 2017. The meeting was held amidst concerns over the measures adopted last week by the Government, seen as a potential destabilizing factor for the budget. The Government has introduced salary increases and tax deductions for pensioners, also exempting them from paying health insurance contributions, which makes for a considerable financial effort. The President wanted to know how the Government was planning to deal with the effects of these measures. Klaus Iohannis believes the Government and Parliament must come up with a sustainable budget, providing for a deficit below 3% of the GDP and 2% allotted to defense. The budget for 2017 is being drawn up with utter responsibility, the members of the Government have said.



    The Government can issue emergency ordinances during Parliaments recess



    The Government can issue emergency ordinances during Parliaments recess, the Constitutional Court of Romania has ruled. The court rejected by unanimous vote the notification filed by the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party whereby the three parties challenged the constitutionality of the Governments ability to issue such ordinances. Constitutional Court president Valer Dorneanu said the challenges to the regulations of the Chamber of Deputies were not for the Constitutional Court to rule. Opposition parties claim the law allowing the Government to pass emergency ordinances enables the Government to change organic laws through simple ordinances, which they believe goes against the Constitution. The Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea said the oppositions notification was only an attempt to block the activity of the Government.



    CVM in place in 2017



    Romania has met all requirements to have the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism lifted this year, Justice Minister Florin Iordache said on Thursday, after meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of the European Commission, Paraskevi Michou.



    Florin Iordache: “The mechanism, which for years has been functional and has shown Romanias progress, proves that there are sufficient guarantees that the authorities working in the judicial field do their job properly.



    Paraskevi Michou said however that the CVM would not be lifted in 2017, despite Romanias progress over the past 10 years. Michou explained that lifting the mechanism depended solely on the efforts of the Government and Parliament to make the reforms reported so far sustainable and irreversible. The EU official said the CVM report for 2016 would be released shortly, and that the Commission was willing to cooperate closely with the authorities with a view to lifting the mechanism. The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism was introduced in 2007 as a prerequisite for Romanias accession to the European Union. It monitors the countrys reform of its judiciary and the fight against corruption and organized crime.



    High-ranking intelligence officer suspended



    The second most important man in the Romanian Intelligence Service, General Florian Coldea, has been suspended from office after his name was linked to a scandal involving the controversial businessman Sebastian Ghita, who is currently being investigated for several acts of corruption. The decision of the Romanian Intelligence Service to suspend Coldea came after Sebastian Ghita accused Coldea of illegal dealings. An international arrest warrant has been issued on his name. The Intelligence chief Eduard Hellvig has called for the setting up of a special committee to investigate Coldeas relationship with Ghita. Hellvig will also serve as First Deputy Director pending the inquiry.

  • January 12, 2017 UPDATE

    January 12, 2017 UPDATE

    TAX LEGISLATION – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, Thursday signed into law a bill passed last week by the Chamber of Deputies, and comprising two amendments to the Fiscal Code. They concern scrapping the health insurance contribution for pensioners and an income tax exemption for all pensions below 450 euros. The bill was endorsed by 207 votes in favour and 29 against.



    WEATHER – In Romania, a new code yellow alert is in place, valid from Friday morning until Saturday at noon in most of the country, and warning against snowfalls, blizzard and black ice. The National Meteorology Agency said the alert might be extended. Lows will go down to negative 12 degrees, and highs will reach 8 degrees C. Because of the extreme weather, more than 100 trains were cancelled on Thursday, and schools and kindergartens in Bucharest and 12 other counties remained closed.



    CONSTITUTIONAL COURT – Romania’s Constitutional Court decided on Thursday that the law enabling the Government to issue orders was constitutional, rejecting a notification filed by the National Liberal Party, Save Romania Union and the People’s Movement Party. The opposition parties had claimed that the law would allow the Grindeanu cabinet to amend organic laws through simple orders, which would run counter to the Constitution. The head of the Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea had stated that the opposition was merely attempting to block the Government’s activity.




    CVM Romania meets all conditions for the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism to be terminated this year, said on Thursday the Romanian Justice Minister Florin Iordache after a meeting with the Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Institutional and Administrative Policies of the European Commission Paraskevi Michou. The mechanism was introduced in 2007 as a prerequisite for Romania’s and Bulgaria’s joining the EU and it focuses in particular on the reform of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organized crime. The Justice Minister has also said that Romania has taken major steps towards consolidating important institutions, which is a guarantee for the fact that the rule of law is extremely important in Romania.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • EU Commissioner for Justice visits Bucharest

    EU Commissioner for Justice visits Bucharest

    Upon meeting with Romanian Justice Minister Raluca Pruna, the EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourova, said Bucharest continued efforts to reform its judiciary and had committed to observing the recommendations the European Commission had included in its latest report on Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. The two officials pointed out that reforms in the justice system must continue.



    Referring to recovering losses incurred by crime, Vera Jourova spoke of promoting the European Prosecutors Office, arguing that it was not about money, but about peoples trust. Millions of euros have been embezzled by means of corruption, and the people expect this money to be recovered, given that it is taxpayers money, Jourova went on to say. In turn, Romanian Justice Minister Raluca Pruna referred to the European agenda and the projects Romania is currently running.



    “Romania is a traditional advocate of instruments for promoting a consolidated area of justice, freedom and security. We have focused on projects related to the European Prosecutors Office. Romania stands for such an institution to be established, and it also supports other projects on the European agenda aimed at increasing security for European citizens, such as combating terrorism and money laundering.



    European Commissioner Vera Jourova said 2017 might see a decision with respect to lifting the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for judicial reforms in Romania, or replacing the mechanism by another instrument for monitoring Romanias judiciary.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • February 29, 2016 UPDATE

    February 29, 2016 UPDATE

    VISIT-The Romanian authorities are carrying on with the measures meant to reform the judiciary and have set as their main priority to observe the recommendations made in the European Commissions latest report issued under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, the Romanian justice minister, Raluca Pruna, said in Bucharest Monday, fresh from a meeting with the European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourova. The Romanian official added that Romania was ready to assume its own assessment within internal mechanisms, which mainly consist in the strategy for the development of the legal system and in the new National Anti-Corruption Strategy. Previously the European Commissioner had met with the Romanian Prime Minister, Dacian Ciolos. The two officials talked about cooperation with the European Commission in the field of justice, the anti-corruption fight, the lifting of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification as well as about the consumer protection policy, gender equality, the social inclusion of the Roma population and the proposal of setting up, at EU level, the position of European Prosecutor General.



    ECONOMY– An IMF mission is expected in Bucharest between March 2 and 15, for the annual assessment of the Romanian economy. The mission, led by the new head of the IMF mission for Romania, Reza Baqir, will meet with Romanian high officials, with representatives of the political parties, of trade unions, business associations, of the academic environment and the banking system. The assessment of the economy is, according to Article IV of the IMF Statute, a compulsory monitoring exercise for all member states. After the examination of the national situation, general recommendations are made related to monetary, financial and economic policies to be acted upon so as to ensure stability and a positive development of the economy. At present, Romania has no running agreement with the IMF.



    APPOINTMENT-The former deputy governor of the National Bank of Romania, Cristian Popa, has been appointed Vice-President and member of the Management Committee of the European Investment Bank. He will take office on March 1. The EIB is the financial institution of the EU and the Banks Board of Governors consists of 28 European Union Finance Ministers. The bank grants loans mainly to the EU states at very advantageous interest rates for investments in such domains as transport, communications, industry, agriculture, energy, education, healthcare and SMEs. The Romanian Vice-President coordinates the funding activities in Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia and the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).



    HEALTHCARE-One of the children hospitalized at the “Marie Curie hospital in Bucharest with the hemolytic uremic syndrome is still in intensive care, but his condition is stable, sources with the healthcare ministry report. The cause of infection is the E.Coli bacteria which has generated an epidemic in Arges county, in the south, since the beginning of February. In Arges county more than 50 children are still in hospital with serious digestive infections. The National Sanitary-Veterinary Authority has announced that the E.Coli bacteria has been found in cow cheese in Curtea de Arges, a town in the same county, and in poultry products made in a household in Bacau county, eastern Romania.

    LAW ON DEBT DISCHARGE-
    The Romanian Senate on Monday unanimously adopted the law on debt discharge,
    which provides for discharging someone’s debt if they give the mortgaged dwelling
    to the bank. The draft law is to be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, which
    is the decision making body in this case.


    SURVEY- More than 9 in 10 Romanians say they have little or very little confidence in the political parties, a survey conducted by the Romanian Evaluation and Strategy Institute, shows. Three quarters of the respondents have unfavourable opinions of the parties and only 6% of them say these parties are representing the citizens interests. Political leaders are believed to be the main beneficiaries of the parties activity. Some 6 in 10 Romanians prefer an independent politician and only 3 in 10 favour a politician affiliated to a political party. The sociological survey was conducted ahead of the local elections due in summer and of the legislative ones, due in autumn. The elections will be organised by the technocratic government led by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, which took office in November, following the resignation of the cabinet led by Social-Democrat Victor Ponta, as an outcome of the street protests against the corruption of the political class.



    MASS MEDIA– The Speaker of the Romanian Senate, Calin Popescu Tariceanu, has said the Romanian Television Company (TVR), which is facing severe financial problems, can redress itself only by a joint effort of the Romanian Government and Parliament. He said the separation of the two positions of Chairman and CEO, respectively, is not a solution to the issue. Tariceanu has also said the National Radio Broadcasting Corporation has had a totally different evolution from that of the Romanian Television Company, in terms of both ratings and financial results, although it functions based on the same law and with the same organizing structure, that is the formula: Chairman and CEO. The deadline for the public debate on the draft bill meant to amend the law regulating the organization and functioning of the Romanian Radio and Television Corporations expired on Monday. The initiator of the law proposes the separation of the positions of Chairman and CEO, in the two media institutions.


    (Translated by Lacramioara Simion and Diana Vijeu)

  • Romania makes good anti-corruption progress

    Romania makes good anti-corruption progress

    The document confirms the ongoing and steady progress Bucharest has registered in all fields under assessment, proving the durable and sustainable reforms in the fields of justice and anti-corruption fight, the Romanian authorities say. A report recently published by Transparency International has confirmed this perception.


    Transparency Internationals deputy director Iulia Cospanaru spoke about the corruption perceptions index and how it has changed in recent years in an interview to Radio Romania: “This years results are encouraging. Romania scored 46 points on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The score in itself is not satisfying but whats important is the trends it reflects. We have a three-point increase as compared to previous years. In the world classification, which includes 168 countries, Romania fares better than a year ago, ranking 58th, compared with 69th last year. So there is improvement in this respect as well.



    The corruption perceptions index is a composite index, a combination of different international surveys and assessments, such as United Nations and World Bank reports. The assessment is also based on opinion polls and relies mostly on the perception of investors, foreign citizens wishing to move to Romania, the Romanian public, international NGOs and public international organisations. In other words, it all comes down to how a country is perceived by other countries. The assessment in the case of Romania was based on nine sources, while the minimum number of sources for establishing the perceptions index is three. The latest European Commission report published in Brussels shows that last year alone, 25% of Romanians said they were asked explicitly or suggested that they should pay a bribe, compared with a 4% European average.



    Iulia Cospanaru explains: “When we speak about corruption we dont speak about bribe alone. Bribe is one form of corruption, perhaps the most frequently encountered by citizens, but we also speak of abuse of office and the misappropriation of public funds, which could become a source of wealth for people who are no longer satisfied with the wages they get for the job they are doing. So, while putting together these corruption perceptions indexes we have to take into account this broader definition of corruption as the abuse of ones position of power in order to obtain additional benefits. When the corruption perceptions index goes down and corruption diminishes, the human development index will improve as a result.



    According to Transparency International, it remains to be seen whether Bucharests anti-corruption efforts are sustainable in the coming years. Romania should not stop at achieving convictions, it should also seek to recover the losses it has incurred through corruption, so that the public money that has been stolen to return to the citizens.



    At the same time, a mechanism to prevent further acts of corruption has to be put in place. Transparency International Romania executive director Victor Alistar tells us more: “The most important thing is to prevent, to create a culture of integrity, to impose very clear rules and establish the ways by which the rules are complied with and the ways to handle the breaking of the rules. This will make sure that your partners – whether in business or in relationship with the state and civil society in general, including the people on Facebook or those listening to the public radio – will perceive you as an honest person or institution. This is the direction in which we as a country should move. Very concrete technical solutions are available in this regard, such as the regulation and simplification of administrative procedures, predictability and the elimination of the discriminatory treatment of people.



    Discretionary treatment can lead to abuse of power for personal gain, which spells out as corruption, says the executive director of Transparency International Romania, Victor Alistar.


    (Edited by Cristina Mateescu)

  • Ministerpräsident Cioloş fordert internes System zur Überwachung der Justiz

    Ministerpräsident Cioloş fordert internes System zur Überwachung der Justiz

    Rumäniens Ministerpräsident Dacian Cioloş hat sich am Dienstag vor den Botschaftern der EU-Staaten in Bukarest dafür eingesetzt, dass der Kooperations- und Überprüfungsmechanismus durch ein internes System ersetzt wird. Er erörterte die Stellung, laut der Rumänien weiterhin ein wichtiger Kandidat für den Schengen-Beitritt bleibt. Der Premier sprach unter anderen über die drei Hauptprioritäten der Regierung, die Wirtschaft, die Verwaltungsreform und die Vorbereitung Rumäniens auf den EU-Vorsitz 2019.



    Am gleichen Tag erklärte Präsident Klaus Iohannis an der Zeremonie zur Amtseinführung der Absolventen des Nationalen Instituts für Richter und Staatsanwälte, dass Rumänien beträchtliche Fortschritte im Justizbereich erzielt hat. Er verwies außerdem darauf, dass die Richter und Staatsanwälte eine beträchtliche Rolle in der Korruptionsbekämpfung spielen. Iohannis betonte, dass die Gewährleistung der Justizunabhängigkeit und die Konsolidierung der Rechtsstaatlichkeit die Prioritäten seines Mandats seien. Der Staatschef erinnerte den jungen Richtern und Staatsanwälten, dass sie ihren Beruf mit Ehrlichkeit und in Gleichgewicht ausüben müssen.



    Die Justiz wird im Namen des Gesetzes volbracht, die Justiz ist einzig, unparteiisch und für alle gleich. Ich denke, dass die Menschen große Erwartungen an die Richter und Staatsanwälte haben, an die ganze Justiz haben. Es ist Ihre Rolle und Ihre Pflicht, das Gesetz gleichmäßig anzuwenden und dadurch, glaube ich, werden Sie zur Wiederherstellung des Vertrauens an das Gesetz beitragen.“



    Die Erklärungen finden in einer unruhigen Zeit für die Justiz statt, mit Strafverfolgungen und Verhaftungen an der Spitze der Politik und nich nur. Der Rechtsausschuss des Senats hat den Antrag der Antikorruptionsbehörde zur Einleitung der Strafverfolgung des Senators und ehemaligen Justizministers Gabriel Oprea, in der Akte der vermeintlichen illegalen Inanspruchnahme von Polizeieskorten , die zum Tod eines Polizeibeamten geführt hat, genehmigt. Gabriel Oprea beteuert weiterhin er sei unschuldig und er habe nichts Besonderes im Vergleich zu anderen Justizministern getan.



    Der Chefstaatsanwalt Rumäniens Tiberiu Niţu trat hingegen vor dem Hintergrund der Ermittlung im Falle der illegalen Inanspruchnahme der Polizeieskorten zurück. Laut Gesetz haben nur der Präsident, der Premierminister und die beiden Vorsitzenden der Abgeordnetenkammer und de Senats Anspruch auf Polizeieskorte und die Minister und in Ausnahmefällen. Tiberiu Niţu erklärte, dass die Festlegung des Schutzniveaus eines Würdenträgers nicht seine Aufgabe sei, sondern die der befugten Staatsanstalten. Aus diesem Grund meint er, haber er gegen kein Gesetz verstößt, als er die Schutz- und Begleitungsmannschaften in anspruch genommen hat. Obwohl er sich für unschuldig erklärt, sagte der ehemalige Staatsanwalt, er sei entschlossen zurückzutreten, da sein Name und seine Stelle künstlich mit einer Situation in Verbindung gebracht wurden, die der von ihm geleiteten Anstalt schaden könnte. Die Amtszeit von Tiberiu Niţu wäre im Monat Mai dieses Jahres zu Ende gegangen.

  • Die Woche 12.04 – 17.04.2015 im Überblick

    Die Woche 12.04 – 17.04.2015 im Überblick

    IWF korrigiert Wachstumsprognosen für Rumänien nach oben



    Der Internationale Währungsfonds hat die Prognosen für das Wirtschaftswachstum Rumäniens in 2015 auf 2,7% nach oben korrigiert. Das zeigte der am Dienstag vom IWF veröffentlichte Prognosebericht World Economic Outlook. Die Institution hatte im vergangenen Herbst das Wirtschaftswachstum auf 2,4% geschätzt. Für das Jahr 2016 rechnet der IWF laut der neuen Prognose mit einem Wirtschaftswachstum von 2,9%. Die Ratingagentur Standard&Poor’s geht im Falle Rumäniens von einem Wachstum von 3% im Zeitraum 2015-2018 aus. Der rumänische Finanzminister Eugen Teodorovici reiste indes am Donnerstag in die USA, um mit Vertretern des IWF, der Europäischen Kommission und der Weltbank über das neue Steuerreformpaket in Rumänien zu diskutieren.



    Anhörungen zu CVM im Europäischen Parlament



    Mehrere rumänische und bulgarische Amtsträger sind am Dienstag im Haushaltsausschuss des EU-Parlaments zum Thema Kooperations- und Kontrollmechanismus im Bereich Justiz in ihren Ländern angehört worden. Seit dem EU-Beitritt Rumäniens und Bulgariens im Jahr 2007 wird der Mechanismus in den zwei Ländern angewandt. Rumänien und Bulgarien hatten mehrere Ziele hinsichtlich der Reform des Justizsystems, der Bekämpfung der Korruption in den staatlichen Einrichtungen und der Bekämpfung des organisierten Verbrechens zu erfüllen. Die Debatte im Europäischen Parlament fand vor einem bekannten Hintergrund statt: Rumänien besteht seit Monaten darauf, dass die Europäische Union seine Erfolge bei der Bekämpfung der Korruption anerkennt und einen klaren Fahrplan zum Schengen-Beitritt festlegt.

    Zu den Debatten im Europäischen Parlament waren unter anderen auch der rumänische Justizminister, Robert Cazanciuc, und die Oberstaatsanwältin Laura Codruţa Kövesi, die Leiterin der Nationalen Antikorruptionsbehörde, eingeladen. Die rumänischen Vertreter hinterlie‎ßen einen guten Eindruck im Haushaltsausschuss — die Euroabgeordneten waren sich einig, dass Rumänien im Rahmen des Kooperations- und Kontrollmechanismus gute Fortschritte erzielt habe.

    Die rumänische Europaabgeordnete Monica Macovei, von der Fraktion der Europäischen Volkspartei, hatte zuvor bei der Eröffnung der Debatte gesagt, dass die rumänischen Justizbehörden jetzt ein Beispiel für viele andere Länder seien. Auch die Generalsekretärin der Europäischen Kommission, Catherine Day, lobte die Fortschritte Rumäniens, sie fügte allerdings hinzu, dass man sich in dieser Richtung weiter bemühen sollte, vor allem bei der Bekämpfung der Korruption in den unteren Ebenen der staatlichen Einrichtungen.



    EU-Kommissarin für Regionalpolitik Crețu nimmt Infrastruktur-Projekte unter die Lupe



    Die Europäische Kommission ist an dem notwendigen Ausbau der Infrastruktur in den weniger entwickelten EU-Staaten interessiert. So die rumänische EU-Kommissarin für Regionalpolitik Corina Creţu im Rahmen ihres Besuchs am Mittwoch in Klausenburg. Das Transeuropäische Verkehrsnetz TEN-T sei eine Priorität der Kommission, fügte Corina Creţu hinzu, die zusammen mit dem rumänischen Verkehrsminister Ioan Rus eine Strecke der teilweise über TEN-T finanzierten Autobahnstrecke Sebesch-Turda besuchte. Die Arbeiten an der 70 km langen Autobahn sollen Mitte des kommenden Jahres abgeschlossen sein. Die Stricke verbindet die Autobahn Transilvania (Landesmitte) mit dem Paneuropäischen Verkehrskorridor IV (Schwarzes Meer). Die Europäische Kommission wird für den Bau der ersten Teilstrecke der Autobahn Sebesch-Turda rund 150 Millionen Euro zuteilen. Unterdessen ist auf Empfehlung der Europäischen Kommission die Autobahnstrecke Piteşti-Sibiu als Priorität der Verkehrsstrategie des Landes anerkannt worden. Angestellte des Dacia-Werks im süd-rumänischen Mioveni bei Piteşti hatten in einer Aktion unter der Woche gegen die Verzögerungen in dem Autobahn-Projekt protestiert. Sie fürchten um ihre Arbeitsplätze, seitdem Führungskräfte der Renault-Tochter Werksschlie‎ßungen in Aussicht gestellt hatten, sollte die Autobahn nach Westeuropa nicht in absehbarer Zukunft fertig gebaut sein.



    Russland droht NATO-Mitgliedern



    Russland hat erneut den europäischen NATO-Mitgliedern gedroht, die auf ihrem Territorium Elemente der US-Raketenabwehrsysteme beherbergen. Rumänien oder Polen würden deshalb zu den ersten Angriffszielen Moskaus gezählt, erklärte der russische Generalstabschef Valeri Gherasimov am Donnerstag. Amtsträger aus Rumänien und der NATO reagierten sofort auf die Drohung. In einer Mitteilung auf einem sozialen Netzwerk wies Ministerpräsident Victor Ponta die Bedrohungen und Kritik der russischen Verantwortlichen zurück. Rumänien lie‎ße sich dadurch nicht einschüchtern und werde seine Strategie nicht ändern. NATO-Sprecherin Oana Lungescu verwies erneut darauf, dass das Raketenabwehrsystem der Allianz nicht gegen Russland gerichtet sei.



    NATO führt Militärübungen in Rumänien durch



    Im Südosten von Rumänien hat am Donnerstag die Militärübung Wind Spring 2015 begonnen. Daran beteiligen sich rund 2200 Soldaten aus Rumänien, Gro‎ßbritannien, der Moldau und den USA. Bis zum 30. April trainieren die Truppen taktische Operationsplanung. Ziel ist es, die Operationsbereitschaft, die Standardisierung und das Zusammenspiel der Länder und Verbände innerhalb der NATO zu verbessern.