| Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.10, No.34, 7.10.04 |
| Publication Date | 07/10/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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By David Cronin Date: 07/10/04 ROMANIA received a significant boost for its drive to join the EU in 2007, with the European Commission conferring it the status of a functioning market economy and recommending that negotiations on its terms of entry should be wound up by the end of this year. But the Commission's report lists some grave shortcomings in the administration of justice. It says that it is "common practice" for judges to be appointed because of political considerations, citing the naming of Nicolae Popa, a former advisor to President Ion Iliescu, as head of the High Court in July. It says the quality of judgments "remains a problem", with errors made by lower courts detected in one-third of cases taken to appeal. The report also says that there has been no reduction in "perceived levels of corruption", that journalists are frequently offered bribes to influence their reporting and that the cases of physical attacks against investigative reports have increased. Bulgaria, which has closed all 30 of the thematic chapters of the accession talks, is given a more upbeat assessment. Nevertheless, Sofia is called on to intensify the fight against corruption and to better the lot of the Roma gypsy community. The Commission recommends that accession talks with Croatia should commence in 2005 but does not grant it a target date for accession to the EU. The European Commission confirmed on 6 October 2004 that Bulgaria and Romania were on track to join the EU in 2007 - provided they continue key reforms. While conferring Romania the status of functioning market economy, it expressed concerns about some grave shortcomings in the administration of justice. Bulgaria was given a positive assessment, all chapters of the accession negotiations being closed. The Commission also proposed a reinforced pre-accession strategy for Croatia. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania |
