Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

EU tells Bulgaria, Romania to do more on corruption

-

Bulgaria and Romania must do more to meet European Union standards on crime, corruption and judicial reform, the EU's executive arm said Wednesday.

The two former Communist states joined the bloc in 2007 promising to come up to EU standards by completing a Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) process, but progress has been slow, especially in Bulgaria.

European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans said Bulgaria could expect to conclude the CVM process by 2019, as pledged by Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker.

"The momentum built up so far allows the focus to shift to the key remaining steps," Timmermans said in a statement.

"The speed of this depends on how quickly the Bulgarian authorities are able to take the identified remaining steps in an irreversible way, in a way that does not call into question the progress made so far," he added.

The Commission said "one of the most significant tests" for Bulgaria for this year would be the open and transparent election of a new Supreme Judicial Council, which oversees the judiciary.

The council "will have to develop a track record of impartial and professional decision-making in key areas," it said.

On corruption, Bulgaria needed to produce results the public could have faith in. And while organised crime might not be as much a problem as before, Sofia still had to show it could bring cases to a conclusion in court.

The Commission concluded that Bulgaria's overall progress since 2007 "has not been as fast as hoped for... Therefore, this report cannot conclude that the benchmarks are at this stage satisfactorily fulfilled."

- Vowing to reform -

In response, Bulgaria's main parties vowed to implement the reforms after early general elections on March 26.

The country is still seen as the EU's most corrupt member state, according to an annual global ranking released Wednesday by Transparency International.

A Eurobarometer survey also published Wednesday showed that 72 percent of Bulgarians want the CVM process to stay in place to ensure authorities clear up graft.

Meanwhile, the Commission's report on Romania was more positive, citing the need for only "a very limited number" of recommendations and "major progress" over the past 10 years, to the point where 2017 could prove decisive.

"I hope in 2017 we will see the speed, determination and internal safeguards needed to complete the necessary reforms and ensure the irreversibility of the results," Timmermans said.

However, the report cautioned Bucharest against moving ahead with plans to push through decrees that would pardon corrupt politicians and decriminalise other offences.

Brussels said the approval of the legal amendments would lead to a "re-evaluation of the achieved progress".

More than 15,000 Romanians including President Klaus Iohannis protested against the controversial proposals on Sunday.

Iohannis warned Wednesday that "these negative developments" could derail the government's hoped-for lifting of the CVM.

Bulgaria and Romania must do more to meet European Union standards on crime, corruption and judicial reform, the EU’s executive arm said Wednesday.

The two former Communist states joined the bloc in 2007 promising to come up to EU standards by completing a Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) process, but progress has been slow, especially in Bulgaria.

European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans said Bulgaria could expect to conclude the CVM process by 2019, as pledged by Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker.

“The momentum built up so far allows the focus to shift to the key remaining steps,” Timmermans said in a statement.

“The speed of this depends on how quickly the Bulgarian authorities are able to take the identified remaining steps in an irreversible way, in a way that does not call into question the progress made so far,” he added.

The Commission said “one of the most significant tests” for Bulgaria for this year would be the open and transparent election of a new Supreme Judicial Council, which oversees the judiciary.

The council “will have to develop a track record of impartial and professional decision-making in key areas,” it said.

On corruption, Bulgaria needed to produce results the public could have faith in. And while organised crime might not be as much a problem as before, Sofia still had to show it could bring cases to a conclusion in court.

The Commission concluded that Bulgaria’s overall progress since 2007 “has not been as fast as hoped for… Therefore, this report cannot conclude that the benchmarks are at this stage satisfactorily fulfilled.”

– Vowing to reform –

In response, Bulgaria’s main parties vowed to implement the reforms after early general elections on March 26.

The country is still seen as the EU’s most corrupt member state, according to an annual global ranking released Wednesday by Transparency International.

A Eurobarometer survey also published Wednesday showed that 72 percent of Bulgarians want the CVM process to stay in place to ensure authorities clear up graft.

Meanwhile, the Commission’s report on Romania was more positive, citing the need for only “a very limited number” of recommendations and “major progress” over the past 10 years, to the point where 2017 could prove decisive.

“I hope in 2017 we will see the speed, determination and internal safeguards needed to complete the necessary reforms and ensure the irreversibility of the results,” Timmermans said.

However, the report cautioned Bucharest against moving ahead with plans to push through decrees that would pardon corrupt politicians and decriminalise other offences.

Brussels said the approval of the legal amendments would lead to a “re-evaluation of the achieved progress”.

More than 15,000 Romanians including President Klaus Iohannis protested against the controversial proposals on Sunday.

Iohannis warned Wednesday that “these negative developments” could derail the government’s hoped-for lifting of the CVM.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Business

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier was reviewing recent incidents and would redouble safety initiatives as needed - Copyright AFP Logan CyrusUnited...

World

US President Joe Biden speaks during a reception honoring Women's History Month at the White House - Copyright AFP Brendan SMIALOWSKIDanny KEMPUS President Joe...

Business

A Milei marks 100 days in office, thousands protest his austerity measures - Copyright AFP Luis ROBAYOLeila MACORArgentina’s President Javier Milei has slashed public...

Life

The Michelin Guide unveiled its annual list of the best French restaurants, praising the "cultural dynamism" of a new generation of chefs.