‘Romanian reform will continue’

Monica Macovei, Romania’s justice minister, said she was confident that her country would meet the requirements laid down by the European Commission to overcome continuing problems with corruption and judicial reform.

Macovei was at the EV50 gala evening having been nominated in the category of Campaigner of the Year for her efforts to tackle corruption and reform the judiciary.

The campaign continues and Macovei said that she agreed with the Commission carrying out post-accession assessments, the first set for March, which will be followed by sanctions if Romania is still found to be lagging behind the Commission’s requirements. But she warned about the possible consequences of these sanctions, which would include not recognising judgements passed in Romanian courts and not passing on European Court of Justice judgements.

"I think it would have a very bad effect - an effect on people and companies…the guilty ones would not be paying," said Macovei.

She said work was under way to set up an integrity agency to verify assets and potential conflicts of interest and to improve the judicial process, as required by the Commission.

The former prime minister Adrian Nastase is to go on trial charged with bribery and receiving illegal campaign funds. Macovei said more high-profile corruption cases would follow. "The defendants will come from all political parties," she added.

The effect of this campaign against corruption had been to show the public that there was no immunity from prosecution. "It showed the people that everyone is equal," Macovei said.

Romania’s admission did not mean that the pace of reforms would slow down in the area of justice, she said, adding that: "I am not more relaxed. I want to do these changes. Accession will be a happy moment but there is a lot of work to do."

She said Romania had good judicial standards and the rest of the EU should not be concerned about Bucharest entering sensitive common judicial agreements. "If we look at the ten countries which joined in 2004 there was not any big difference and I don’t think the rest of the EU had anything to fear…we have normal judges, normal courts."

While some member states are resisting handing over power to the EU on justice and home affairs, Macovei said she would have no problem joining the more pro-European side of the debate. "I am happy to join the common rules…maybe there are some reservations from the side of old member states but personally I would have no problem with this. I would like to see changes brought about as quickly as possible."

Monica Macovei, Romania’s justice minister, said she was confident that her country would meet the requirements laid down by the European Commission to overcome continuing problems with corruption and judicial reform.