Romanian Justice minister suggests critical report on fighting graft was not made by GRECO experts, questions their competence

Justice minister Tudorel Toader on Wednesday questioned the competence of GRECO experts he has talked to before the Council of Europe body put forward a critical report on the fight against corruption in Romania and attempted changes to the laws of the judiciary. He claimed Romania was not a subject in European talks on activating Article 7, as it happened in the case of Poland.

Invited to Senate hearings about the critical GRECO report, minister Toader claimed that GRECO experts he had talked to before the publication „did not convince me that, professionally, they’re up to the level” of the content of the document.

And he started his presentation by „urging to keep the dignity of making laws in line with national specifics, with the national interest, by respecting constitutional and European standards”.

GRECO is the Group of States against Corruption in the Council of Europe. The body published in April its report on Romania, saying it was deeply concerned about aspects of a wave of changes to the laws of the judiciary in Romania. The changes, pushed by the current, PSD-led governing coalition, have been harshly criticised at home and abroad as an attempt to bury the fight against corruption in the country.