Press Release: Commission issues report on progress in Romania under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism

The report presents the Commission's analysis on the steps Romania has taken in the past six months and shows where further steps are needed.

President Barroso said, "This report comes just after the election of a new government in Romania. It contains clear recommendations on the rule of law and judicial independence which I hope will be taken up as part of ongoing reform in Romania. Steps have been taken to address the serious concerns we raised in July and our report explains clearly where further progress is needed."

In July 2012 the Commission published its regular report on Romania's progress under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism. At that time important questions were raised about the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in Romania and the Commission made a number of recommendations to Romania. It also indicated that it would make a report on how its recommendations had been followed up six months later.

In that follow up report adopted on 30 January 2013, the Commission finds that Romania has implemented several but not all of its recommendations. The report also covers other aspects of reform of the judicial system and the fight against corruption. It addresses further recommendations to Romania which will be followed up by the Commission.