GRECO

In its second annual EU rule-of-law report released in Brussels on Tuesday, the European Commission looks at the independence and quality of Romania's judiciary, the fight against corruption, media pluralism and media freedom.

The Coalition operates on the principle of solidarity and collegiality, and the Prime Minister will revoke a minister after prior notification of the formation that proposed the minister, on the basis of arguments and after a debate in the coalition, is specified in the Additional Act to the Government Agreement concluded on Tuesday by the leaders of the PNL (National Liberal Party), USR PLUS (

Minister of Justice Stelian Ion met on Monday with the Dutch Ambassador to Romania, Roelof Van Ees, with the two officials discussing on this occasion the process of amending the Justice package, but also the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

Prime Minister Ludovic Orban stated on Tuesday that one of new government's main objectives is to close the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) "in the shortest time possible while," which can only be achieved if the recommendations made by the European Commission are met.

Acting Justice Minister Ana Birchall said on Tuesday that she will convene the committee dealing with the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) in an urgent meeting to devise an action plan for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the European Commission report on Romania's progress under CVM, showing that one explicit aim in the report is the disbandment of the Specia

Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Ludovic Orban believes that Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has a duty to implement all the recommendations issued by GRECO, the Venice Commission and the European Commission. "Premier Vasilica Viorica Dancila behaves as if she is still led by Liviu Dragnea [former Social Democratic Party leader, ed.n.].

At a meeting on Tuesday with visiting US Attorney General William Barr, Romania's Prime Minister Viorica Dancila voiced the determination of her government to strengthen relations with the USA, with Romania being a supporter of co-operation between the United States and the European Union. "The Romanian government and the Romanian society are deeply attached to the European and Western values.

President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday announced he invited the parliamentary parties to sign a national agreement for a European Romania. "I found that there is a wide convergence. The wide majority of parties agreed that the results of this referendum must be implemented as the people voted, that Romania's European path must be consolidated.

The embassies of twelve states that are Romania's international partners and allies, including France, the US and Germany, express concerns about the rule of law in Romania and call on all parties involved in drafting emergency government ordinances modifying justice sector laws "to avoid changes that would weaken the rule of law and Romania's ability to fight crime or corruption".

Former prosecutor-in-chief of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi said on Saturday that Justice in Romania is going through a "difficult time" and this is the signal given by the magistrates who have protested lately. "Justice in Romania is now at a very difficult point and I do not know if we can manage to overcome this moment on our own.