Romania President Basescu: Failure in advancing high level corruption files would certainly lead to negative report this summer

Romania President Traian Basescu said on Monday that a failure in advancing high level corruption files would lead to a negative European report on Romania. He said in a press statement linked to the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism that he would not have his words taken for meddling with justice affairs but that he had the duty to overview the good functioning of state institutions.

In this quality, he underlined the lack of efficiency and progress in judging high level corruption cases.

He said an interim report published by the European Commission presents the evolution in the field of justice and fight against corruption in an objective manner. He said the report confirmed Romania’s commitment to justice report. Romania had a constructive attitude towards the Commission recommendations in December 2010 and the July 2010 report, he said.

Basescu warned positive aspects of the report should not be dealt with in a triumphant manner.

He said the report underlined in a negative mannet the attitude of the Romanian Parliament regarding the investigation of corruption cases involving MPs, but that, on the other hand, elections for the Supreme Council of Magistrates were welcomed. Still, he said, it was noted that four members of the Council did not met the criteria to become members.