No battle against corruption

The European Commission has adopted too soft a tone regarding corruption in Romania and Bulgaria, the daily newspaper Romania Libera comments. "The EU is and always has been a purely technocratic entity - without doubt a strong economic force, but weak when it comes to putting its foot down. [EU Commission President] José Manuel Barroso is a super-bureaucrat who visibly prefers to adopt a distanced approach to the catastrophic results of Romania's obligations towards the EU. He seldom visits Romania and was loathe to back the reform initiatives of [ex justice minister] Monica Macovei and [President] Traian Basescu aimed at establishing an independent and honest legal system. Today it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to ignore the disaster. Rampant corruption and the presence of cleptocrats [political leaders intent on personal enrichment] in the upper circles of power in Bucharest and Sofia have become one of the most serious threats to the EU. ... Barroso is still hesitating to take action against those who trample on the signed agreements and prefer not to fulfil the promises made before 2007 to the EU."

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Romania, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Tom Gallagher

» To the complete press review of Monday, October 6, 2008