During the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on threats to the rule of law by the Romanian justice system reform. Statements by Monika PANAYOTOVA, Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO), Monica MACOVEI (ECR, RO), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL) and Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE).

Threats to the rule of law by the Romanian justice system reform: extracts from the debate

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SOUNDBITE (English), Monika PANAYOTOVA, Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, The Council welcome the fact that Romania has taken a number of positive steps and encourage the country to renew the momentum on the reforms in particular those relating to the independence of the judiciary and to the fight against corruption at all levels.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, The question we put to the Romanian authorities in the November Report remains valid: namely ' would the process take into account the legitimate interest of the judiciary and respect judicial independence? ' Unfortunately we have continued to see open criticism of the judiciary and defiance of judicial decisions or integrity rules which do not inspire a feeling of confidence in the process.

Events seems they have done nothing to address these concerns. On the 21st December the (Romanian) Parliament adopted amendments to the justice loss in a fast track procedure and the loss were immediately challenged in the Constitutional Court so three referrals. The Constitutional Court proceedings are ongoing but in its first hearing it declared the unconstitutionality of some of the provisions.  This are issues to be looked at carefully in relation to judicial independence and on which there are European standards. The Council of Europe&rsquo;s principle is that you cannot reform the judicial system against the judiciary.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), The Romanians have been on the street for more than a year ,as the temperature has plummeted and the snow fell, they stood up. They flow European Union flag is it because they believed in Europe, a Europe that is not only an economic block but a guarantee of common values and shared promises they believe still.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Victor BO&#350;TINARU (S&amp;D, RO), When it comes to the amendments the solutions are actually fully aligned with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and Constitutional Court and they are also inspired by other solutions found another Member States. Now I just cannot believe that those solutions which guarantee justice and fundamental rights in western Europe are now somehow unacceptable in Romania.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Monica MACOVEI (ECR, RO), This coalition and the Justice Minister sent here as a representative of the government - he is somewhere in this house now - are shamely lying to the Commission and the (European) Parliament by saying that these changes are somehow going to transpose those European directives that&rsquo;s not true. Then what do they want to do with the changes to the criminal code ? This is very important for the Member States because that they will be affecting judicial corporation in a cross-border way for cross-border crimes. They will also be affecting how crimes in one member state and others are dealt with and that might mean that Romania becomes a sort of haven for criminals.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), Romania has made a very good effort very good achievement and progress in the last years . Now it seems to wavered and I would really encourage the Romanian government to follow the recommendations of the European Commission and to actually invite the Venice Commission to judge the reform package and not just refer loosely to some recommendations, but invite the Venice Commission.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), The new laws clearly have one objective: to weaken the legal system and to make it harder to prosecute high-level corruption. We expect the Romanian government and the Romanian Parliament to follow the Court ruling and to make the laws compatible with EU standards and EU rules.

Threats to the rule of law by the Romanian justice system reform: extracts from the debate

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