Expert Committee chairman Florin Iordache says Venice Commission's opinion on Justice package to be sought if necessary

Chairman of the expert Committee on the justice package Florin Iordache said on Thursday that if necessary, the Venice Commission's opinion will be sought on the amendments to the judiciary laws.

The committee met with EC First Vice-President Frans Timmermans on Thursday.

"I think it was a good meeting. I made the following points: firstly, the Court's decisions are generally binding, and as regards the laws of justice, we will bring them in line with the rulings of the Court. As far as the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is concerned, we, all those involved beginning with Parliament, the government and other institutions, will make every effort to meet the observations that have been included in the latest report this year and for the CVM to be closed. (...) We did not get into details, we discussed general issues, and I believe that through this continuous dialogue that is a must between the Commission and the Parliament of Romania, all those queries will be settled," Iordache said at the Palace of Parliament after the meeting with Timmermans.

Asked whether Timmermans recommended the parliamentary committee to also seek the Venice Commission's point of view on the amendments to the laws of justice, Iordache said that if necessary, this will be done too.

"We have undoubtedly taken into account the opinions of the Venice Commission for now and for the future. We have not asked for an opinion so far, but we will discuss in the committee whether we should address such a request at the time we debate the amendments that have been ruled unconstitutional. We have not sought for the opinion of the Venice Commission until now because all the amendments we have made did not run counter to the decisions of the Venice Commission, and the Constitutional Court rulings clearly stipulate that our amendments do not contradict the decisions of the Venice Commission," Iordache explained.

He added that through the amendments to the laws of justice, all premises are set in place for a real independence of the judiciary.

"In our addresses, me and my colleagues have made it very clear that since the most important amendments to all three laws have come from either the Supreme Council of Magistrates or from the professional associations, we don't want in any case Parliament and the judiciary to be at war. At the same time, these amendments that came from the professional associations, are aimed at the real independence of justice and at preventing the interference of politics. It is precisely these amendments that make sure that there is no political interference and that create all the prerequisites for a real independence of the judiciary," Iordache concluded. AGERPRES (RO - author: Dana Piciu, editor: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - author: Simona Klodnischi, editor: Rodica State)