Romania relaxes anti-corruption laws

The Romanian senate on Wednesday passed a controversial amendment to the country's anti-corruption legislation. The Agency for Integrity ANI has been deprived of its power to scrutinise the assets of politicians and functionaries. Scandalous, writes the daily România Liberă, commenting that the decision "ignored the fact that Romania accepted the ANI as an anti-corruption body when it joined the EU. It ignored the fact that the protective clause was intended as an emergency measure, as a means for improving governance, and not as an attack against Romania. It didn't take account of either Brussels' opinion or the veiled warnings of last year that we would be denied entry to the Schengen zone and European funding could be cut. ... None of that counted. The only thing that did count was that politicians and public functionaries would be able to conceal their assets, avoid scrutiny and be able to continue doing business with the state covertly. Since 2007 Romania has taken dramatic steps backwards in the fight against corruption and Europe is beginning to lose patience. Up to now it has been possible to expel anyone from the Union, but if the crisis continues this is what may happen to us."

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Cristian Campeanu

» To the complete press review of Friday, July 2, 2010