Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate

Romania has recalled its ambassador to the US, George Maior, after he told the media on Monday that a letter sent by former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, criticising the country's anti-corruption drive, was the result of lobbying efforts by "individuals who have justice problems".

Serbia's Justice Ministry told BIRN Belgrade is seeking extradition of 120 person from other countries, while other states seek the extradition of 80 persons from Serbia.

One such case concerns the former Romanian MP and businessman Sebastian Ghita, who is wanted in Romania on several corruption charges.

Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate, DNA, summoned the Interior Minister to a hearing on Monday as the anti-corruption watchdog continues to investigate how the Social Democrat-led government adopted a decree decriminalizing official misconduct.

Prosecutors from Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate on Tuesday arrested the head of the Permanent Electoral Authority, AEP, Ana Maria Patru, and charged her with influence peddling and money laundering.

Patru, 40, faces three accounts of influence peddling and two accounts of money laundering committed between 2007 and 2015.

In an article published on Friday, Politico.eu notes the divergent paths Bulgaria and Romania have taken in their efforts to fight corruption, with Bucharest making progress and Sofia lagging behind.

The articles focuses on the role of Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), which has made a deep impact in a country known for public malfeasance and mismanagement.

Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta, under criminal investigation on corruprion charges, has rejected a call by President Klaus Iohannisl to resign.

"Only the Parliament can dismiss me! I think the observance of constitutional principles is vital for our society," Ponta wrote on his Facebook page after a meeting with Iohannis on Friday, according to Agerpres.

The head of Romania's National Agency for Integrity (ANI) Horia Georgescu resigned on accusations of abuse of office during his tenure at the Central Commission for Compensations.

Georgescu handed his resignation, which is going to be registered at the Cabinet of the Romanian Senate President later on Tuesday, AGERPRES news agency reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva announced on Tuesday that Romania's top anti-corruption officials will visit Bulgaria in March at her invitation.

Horia Georgescu, the President of Romania's National Integrity Agency, which represents the country's anti-corruption body, will visit Bulgaria on March 24 and 25, daily Dnevnik reports.

Nine former Romanian ministers face an investigation for corruption and money laundering in a case involving the lease of Microsoft IT licenses for schools.