EC Vice President Franco Frattini (photo), who presented the conclusions of the reports, announced that there is insufficient progress in terms of fighting corruption, and not meeting objectives could warrant future sanctions. The EC also stressed that although there is some improvement in the area of justice and internal affairs, there is no room for "arrogance." The Commission says it is both too soon to consider sanctions or to disregard these.
Romania: Judicial reform is one of the areas with positive development. Establishing the National Integrity Agency (ANI) is "substantial progress," according to European officials. The EC has also criticized tribunals that forwarded high-level corruption cases, such as that of former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, to the Constitutional Court. The report on Romania also highlights the way justice treats high-level corruption cases, the incoherent way in which property restitution is being handled, and the lack of a local administration anti-corruption strategy. In the area of agriculture, the BBC reports that the EC will reserve the right to reduce subsidies for Romanian farmers by 25 percent, if controls in the following weeks do not produce expected results.
Bulgaria: Organized crime remains one of the major problems in Bulgaria and the EC criticized the lack of practical results in fighting this. Assassinations, and especially ones of local political leaders, are major sources of concern. "Until now there were no prosecutions or convictions," reads the report on Bulgaria. However, Bulgaria has introduced an amendment to the Constitution regarding the judiciary's independence and responsibility, thus completing an essential objective. Other positive developments involve the transparency of the judicial process, improved professionalism and efficiency of judges.
Despite progress in each country, the situation is far from satisfactory. "These efforts need to be consolidated, particularly in the area of the fight against corruption. More concrete results, criminals brought to justice and convincing dissuasive judgments are needed," said Franco Frattini.
