During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg (15-18 April 2019), MEPs discuss the situation of rule of law in Romania with the Commission. Statement by Vĕra JOUROVÁ, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Ingeborg GRÄSSLE (EPP, DE), Monica MACOVEI (ECR, RO), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL) and Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Romania (T)

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

SARGENTINI, Judith (Greens/EFA, NL)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

MACOVEI, Monica (ECR, RO)

GRÄSSLE, Ingeborg (EPP, DE)

Rule of law in Romania: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Recent months have been characterized by a very volatile situation in Romania with a series of rushed decisions being taken on essential matters. If these concerns are not met the Commission will have to act and to use all the means at its disposal. The Commission therefore urges Romania to take time to consult getting as close as possible to a consensus and drawing on advice from the Venice Commission as well as the from the CVM process.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, The Romanian authorities would be taking a risk in moving ahead without such a process and this might lead to creating a systemic de facto impunity for high office holders who were sentenced for corruption.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#277;ra JOUROV&#193;, Member of the EC in charge of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Regarding the High Court of Cassation and Justice and a possible follow up to a Constitutional Court judgment that has required changes to the composition of panels of five judges. There are serious questions about what is needed for the follow up and these cannot be separated from the potential consequences of reopening past cases. Something which in itself could amount to a massive interference in the independence of the judiciary. The risk of massive disruption to the Romanian criminal justice system including many corruption cases cannot be ignored.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ingeborg GR&#196;SSLE (EPP, DE), We call for an Article 7 procedure to be initiated to the blocking of funds as well because we're seeing the collapse of rule of law. And I think indeed the government has to be responsible for what is going on in these particular situations.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Monica MACOVEI (ECR, RO), In Romania a group of corrupt politicians and they're led byMr. Dragnea who has been sentenced and is facing the court again having the say the court hearing postponed. They're not respecting the law. They're changing the laws. They're subordinating judges and prosecutors to politics. They're turning investment money into election bribes. They're destroying the heart of democracy because they're corrupt politicians escaping justice. Twenty million peoples fates are hanging on this. Is it save yourself time. We've been downtrodden and we've seen um tear gas grenades fired at us and plastic bullets. Our road is a European road.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), My group the ALDE group has firmly taken its distance from the ALDE Romania Party in government because we are disappointed not just about the changes to the to the penal code but also about their failure to support equal marriage or indeed civil partnership. We are very disappointed about the attitude of the Romanian government in the case of Mrs. Kovesi and we're also very disappointed about their attempts to try and prevent the registration of new parties who want to run in the European elections.

SOUNDBITE (English), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), Everybody has said it but it's incredibly disappointing: the Romanian presidency is not here! That is unbelievable. It is also the presidency that is delegitimizing the parliament's candidate for the European public prosecutor. And with that actually delegitimise the whole process fighting corruption is crucial in rule of law and we've got a country that is seriously backsliding and that is chairing the European Council right now.