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Ambassador to Romania, Matthijs van Bonzel : the fight against corruption is a change of mentality among society
Netherlands' Ambassador to Romania, Matthijs van Bonzel considers that Romania is doing a very good job as regards the fight against corruption, given the resounding cases investigated by the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA), but he believes that the fight against corruption is not only about indicting or sentencing people, but a change of mentality among society.
Romania is doing a very good job as regards its anti-corruption fight, the National Anti-corruption Directorate had high-profile cases, resounding convictions that include now also the extended confiscation, which is a novelty not only in Romania, but also in the enlarged Europe. I saw it in Italy, in the Netherlands, we also notice in Romania that the confiscation practice brings people together in sharing best practices, ideas, the case law is developing, the Netherlands' ambassador told the annual anti-corruption conference titled "Good practices in preventing corruption, promoting integrity and transparency."
The fact that Romania took major steps towards the extended confiscation, alongside the other European countries is very important in order to provide the population with goods not belonging to those convicted, he said.
The fight against corruption, however, is not only about indictments or convictions. Above all it is about changing mentalities and this change of mentality is the core of building a society in which people themselves are working on the society's self-cleaning, the attitude towards the public administration, toward politicians. This implies prevention and education, said Matthijs van Bonzel.
The Dutch ambassador pointed out he has discussed with Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc about the Microsoft case. Matthijs van Bonzel told Cazanciuc that he read that the company spent on hardware acquisitions twice as much compared to their cost, and ten times more than it would have been necessary in a competitive environment on software.
The Dutch official stressed that the fight against corruption means the change of mentality not necessarily at the top of the society, but inside it, from top to bottom, with the National Anti-corruption Strategy playing a vital role in this regard, because it focuses on all levels and sectors.