About: judicial reform
Commission lauds Bulgaria, castigates Romania on judicial reform
The European Commission published on Tuesday (13 November) reports on Bulgaria and Romania under the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), commending Bulgaria for progress made and lambasting Romania for backtracking. Both countries, however, were warned to uphold media freedom.
Romania urged to heed rule of law before assuming EU presidency
The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone.
‘Sad day’ as Poland banned from EU judicial body
Poland was banned Monday (17 September) from the EU body representing the member states' judicial institutions over its perceived lack of independence after controversial government reforms.
Romanian magistrates rally to support rule of law
Hundreds of Romanian magistrates held a silent protest in support of an independent judiciary in capital Bucharest on Sunday (16 September) after a slew of legal changes by the ruling Social Democrats in one of the European Union's most corrupt states.
German foreign minister brands Trump’s EU policy ‘irritating’
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas again took aim at US President Donald Trump's foreign policy in a speech on Monday, branding his policies towards Europe "irritating".
Poles protest as government’s judicial reforms kick in
Thousands of Poles took to the streets of Warsaw and other Polish cities on Tuesday (3 July) to protest against the government's makeover of the judiciary that takes effect at midnight despite strong objections by the European Union.
Victor Negrescu: The Romanian Presidency will build consensus around the citizens
In a wide-ranging interview, Victor Negrescu, the Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs, presents the priorities of the upcoming Romanian Presidency (1 January-30 June 2019), during which the European elections will be held, as well as the first post-Brexit EU summit.
We are aware of ‘Europeisation fatigue’, warns Albanian minister
Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati briefed a small group of Brussels journalists on Thursday (26 April) about his country’s EU ambitions, following the Commission’s proposal to start accession negotiations with Tirana and a visit of Prime Minister Edi Rama to Berlin last Wednesday.
Poland takes step back in court reform to please EU, voters
Poland's lower house of parliament on Thursday (12 April) approved changes to judiciary reforms in a bid to soothe European Union concerns that the rule of law in Poland would be weakened.
The Brief – Spain’s judicial headaches
Spain became embroiled this week in various judicial quagmires. Cases affecting two fugitives, one of its nationals abroad and a foreigner in the Peninsula, tested the relationship between politics and justice, and Spain’s handling of the Catalan issue.
Timmermans urges Romania to avoid ‘wrong’ turn in law reform
The vice-president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans urged Romania yesterday (1 March) not to "run in the wrong direction" over controversial judicial reforms.
Romanian judicial watchdog rejects bid to dismiss anti-graft chief
Romania’s judicial watchdog rejected yesterday (27 February) an application by the justice minister to sack the country's main anti-corruption prosecutor, bolstering her case days after protesters massed in the streets to support her work.
Foreign Minister: Moldova wants normal economic relations with Russia
EXCLUSIVE / In a wide-ranging interview, the minister of foreign affairs and European integration of Moldova, Tudor Ulianovschi, talks about his country's relations with the EU and Moscow, the political situation ahead of crucial elections, and the prospects for frozen conflicts in Transnistria as well as other issues.
Romanian minister calls for prosecutor’s sacking, graft crackdown under threat
Romania's Justice Minister called on Thursday for the country's chief anti-corruption prosecutor to be dismissed for "excess of authority", triggering street protests and potentially destabilising a crackdown on graft.
US, EU warn against political meddling in Bosnia graft cases
The United States and the European Union yesterday (21 February) warned Bosnia it needed to better protect the judiciary in corruption cases from political pressure, which had resulted in few high-level graft cases being processed in the Balkan country.
MEPs grill Romania’s government in absentia
Procedural problems prevented Romanian Justice Minister Tudorel Toader from addressing the European Parliament's plenary session on Wednesday (7 February) and explaining the government’s current judiciary reforms, which many MEPs see as a threat to the rule of law.
Romanian president says will stand up for courts’ independence
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis told the European Union on Wednesday (31 January) he would fight for the independence of his country's courts, which he and Brussels say is threatened by draft laws prepared by the Social Democrat-led government.
Government’s legal reforms are unconstitutional, rules Romania’s top court
Romania's top court ruled yesterday (30 January) that parts of controversial legal reforms pushed by the ruling left were unconstitutional and needed to be modified.
EU warns it may not lift Romania monitoring
The EU on Wednesday (24 January) voiced "concern" at Romania's controversial plans for judicial reform, warning against "backtracking" on efforts to fight corruption, in the latest clash between Brussels and the bloc's former communist east.
Germany and Poland to explore revived ‘Weimar Triangle’
On Wednesday (17 January), Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz met with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin. The ministers spoke about the dispute over the rule of law in Poland, the future of the EU and a possible revival of the Weimar Triangle. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Polish Supreme Court slams ‘unconstitutional’ PiS reforms
Poland's Supreme Court justices yesterday (16 January) denounced the right-wing government's controversial judicial reforms as "unconstitutional", adding their voice to a chorus of criticism at home and abroad.
Romania’s backbencher MEP Viorica Dăncilă to be Prime Minister
Romania's ruling Social Democrats on Tuesday (16 January) put forward European Parliament lawmaker Viorica Dăncilă to become prime minister, after power struggles within the party forced out the second premier in seven months.
Thousands of Romanians protest against judicial reforms
More than ten thousand Romanians demonstrated in Bucharest on Sunday (5 November) to "defend the independence of the judiciary" in protest against a government bill that critics say will weaken anti-corruption measures.