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Relations with Romania have become ‘heavier’, Commission admits
The European Commission admitted on Friday (29 March) that relations with Romania, the holder of the rotating EU presidency, had become “heavier” because of the case of Laura Codru?a Kövesi, the top candidate for the post of the chief European prosecutor, euractiv.com reads.
Commission chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas was asked to comment on the news from Bucharest that Kövesi had been placed under “judicial control” by a special agency that investigates judges and prosecutors, essentially meaning she is banned from leaving the country.
Reading from a prepared text, Schinas said the EU executive was following the developments around the ongoing selection of the European chief prosecutor very closely.
“It is crucial that all candidates put forward by an independent selection panel are treated fairly in the course of this process. Therefore, the Commission calls on the Romanian government and the Romanian authorities to fully respect the principle of sincere cooperation as enshrined in the Treaty, regarding the selection procedure of the European chief prosecutor.
“All candidates need to be able to participate in all steps of the selection procedure, unhindered.”
Schinas responded to follow-up questions, saying that First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Romanian Prime Minister Viorica D?ncil? had spoken on the phone on Thursday.
“We do more than just following the events,” he added.
Schinas admitted twice that the climate of relations between the EU executive and Romania had become heavier.
Asked by EURACTIV if this affected also the Romanian Presidency, he responded by praising the “remarkable” track record of agreements brokered during Bucharest’s watch.
“The work of the Presidency goes on successfully, but all these developments are making heavier the political climate, and require us to follow closely the situation”.
In another exchange, he said: “This is a situation which is not good. It’s affecting the overall political climate, and we are following very closely. And we have the instruments, and the settings, and the means, to address it, when the time comes, in the given context”. He pronounced the last words in French: “le moment venu, dans le context donné”.
Schinas rejected suggestions by journalists that the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) for monitoring Romania’s rule of law has proven to be ineffective.
The mechanism was put in place in 2007 and is still going on. In the latest report from last November, the Commission highlighted some serious concerns about Romania.
Asked about the plans announced by Romania to take the Commission to court over the CVM report, Schinas said he was happy to announce that the Romanian prosecutor had decided to close the judicial proceedings due to lack of evidence.
But EURACTIV has learned from sources in the European Parliament that Romania could even be stripped of its Sibiu summit on the future of Europe on 9 May, if tensions with Brussels escalate. In that case, the landmark gathering could be held in Brussels instead.
Romania has had a bad experience with being denied the hosting high profile events because of its domestic tensions. In 2012, the Party of European Socialists decided to move its congress from Bucharest to Brussels, and EPP considered a similar move.
Kovesi on bid to European Prosecutor's Office: We'll see influence of events on negotiations
Former Romania's chief anti-graft prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi on Monday morning reported to Bucharest Police Precinct 18 to sign for court supervision in a court case in which she is accused of abuse of office, bribe taking and false testimony related to the repatriation of controversial former chief investor Nicolae Popa.
Asked by journalists about her chances of becoming the head of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, given that she is not allowed to leave the country, Kovesi said that she cannot say for the moment how the latest measures against her will influence the outcome of the vote for the offfice.
"We will see; I do not know what will be considered when negotiating, we will see what the decision will be, how much the negotiations have been influenced by the events of late. It is hard to say now what will happen one way or another," Kovesi said.
She added she would like to continue to work at Romania's Public Prosecutor's Office.
On March 28, Kovesi was placed under judicial supervision by prosecutors with the Justice Crime Investigation Section for abuse of office, bribe taking and false testimony in connection with the repatriation of controversial former chief investor Nicolae Popa.
There are several bans on Kovesi, including form leaving the country and talking to the media about the case she is being investigated. Also, she cannot act be a prosecutor with Romania's Public Prosecutor's Office.