Progress in Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism

Over the twelve months since November 2017, Romania has taken some steps to implement
the recommendations set out in the January 2017 report. In line with the assessment set out in
this report, the Commission considers recommendations 8 and 12 can be considered as
fulfilled, and further progress has been made on recommendations 5 and 9.
However, the assessment of the January 2017 report was always conditioned on the avoidance
of negative steps calling into question the progress made in the past 10 years. The entry into
force of the amended Justice laws, the pressure on judicial independence in general and on the
National Anti-Corruption Directorate in particular, and other steps undermining the fight
against corruption have reversed or called into question the irreversibility of progress, in
particular under Benchmarks One and Three.
As a result, the twelve recommendations set out in the January 2017 report are no longer
sufficient to close the CVM in line with the objective set out by the President Juncker and to
this end additional recommendations are set out in this report. This will require the key
institutions of Romania to demonstrate a strong commitment to judicial independence and the
fight against corruption as indispensable cornerstones, and to restore the capacity of national
safeguards and checks and balances to act when there is a risk of a backwards step.

The Commission will continue to follow closely and will assess the situation before the end of
this Commission’s mandate. The immediate implementation of the additional measures is
essential to put the reform process back on track and resume the path towards the conclusion
of the CVM as set out in the January 2017 report.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/progress-report-romania-2018-com-2018-com-2018-851_en.pdf