Romania makes progress on CVM benchmarks - EU Commission

"Since the last CVM report in 2019, the situation within the parameters of the CVM benchmarks has seen a clear positive trend. The Commission welcomes the fact that a strong renewed impetus has been given in 2021 to reform and to repair the backtracking of the 2017-2019 period," the EU's executive body said in the CVM progress report on Romania on Tuesday.

"The result is that there is progress across all the remaining CVM recommendations and many are on the path to being fulfilled if progress remains steady," the Commission added.

According to the Commission the judgment of the Court of Justice of May 18 2021 provides a clear framework and direction in the ongoing reforms to satisfactorily fulfil the CVM benchmarks, in full respect of the rule of law and of EU law generally. The Commission also stressed that it is essential that the judgement is duly reflected in the new legislation to be adopted.

The Commission assessed progress on the 12 recommendations of January 2017 and the eight additional recommendations of November 2018 that Romania still needs to fulfil in order for the CVM to be ended.

For benchmark one, which refers to judicial independence and reform, the EC noted that progress has restarted. Romania's completion of the amendments of the justice laws, the criminal code and criminal procedure code, in line with the recommendations, will be key for measuring progress.

Romania managed to mitigate the risk of backtracking on benchmark two, which refers to the integrity framework and the National Integrity Agency, ANI, the report showed. There are encouraging signs that the new legislature could set a clear path towards sustainability of ANI and the legislative framework on integrity and fulfilling the remaining recommendation, the Commission noted.

The situation regarding benchmark three, which sets recommendations for tackling high-level corruption, has improved since the last assessment in 2019, the Commission said, adding that completion of reforms of the justice laws and of criminal code and criminal procedure codes, will be important steps towards fulfilment of the benchmark.

The progress on benchmark four, which refers to tackling corruption at all levels, could be accelerated and strengthened with the development of the new Anti-Corruption Strategy 2021-2025, the Commission noted.

The CVM was established at the accession of Romania to the EU in 2007 as a transitional measure to facilitate Romania’s continued efforts to reform its judiciary and step up the fight against corruption.