The Week in Review 08-14.04.2018

Click here for an overview of the main issues of the past week in Romania

Leyla Cheamil, 14.04.2018, 14:51

Ex-president of Romania Ion Iliescu might be prosecuted in the 1989 anti-communist revolution case

Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has submitted to the Justice Minister a request to start the criminal prosecution of the former head of state Ion Iliescu, ex-PM Petre Roman and the former deputy prime-minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu, in the 1989 Revolution case, in which the events that led to the fall of the communist regime are being investigated. All three of them are accused of crimes against humanity. According to prosecutors, the incidents that took place after December 22nd, in several towns and cities across Romania, are indicative of the fact that there had been a pre-established plan, through which the new leaders aimed to take over power and secure their legitimacy. Because of the delays in the Revolution Case, Romania has received a sentence from the European Court of Human Rights. According to the Court, the special importance of this case for Romanian society should have motivated the authorities to build the case faster. Official statistics show that, in December 1989, more than 1,100 people were killed and some 3,000 were wounded, most of them after the arrest of dictator Ceausescu.

The European Commission presents its report on Romania

The European Commission Representation in Romania on Wednesday held a conference titled ‘2018 European Semester: Country Report Romania. According to the Commission, limited progress has been made with regard to observing fiscal obligations and tax collection, education, outpatient treatment, public administration and public investment. No progress has been made in terms of minimum wages, retirement age and fiscal policies. On the other hand, though, some progress has been made in terms of public procurement, as well as the fight against illegal employment and informal pay in the healthcare sector.

Romania still has an economic growth rate above the EU average, but mainly because of the rise in consumption, said the head of the European Commission Representation in Romania Angela Cristea: “This growth trend has been maintained, but also has social inequality and poverty, especially among disadvantaged categories. This growth is based on consumption rather than on investment. It is also based on loaning, and the budget deficit is dangerously approaching the alarm threshold of 3%, while the budget deficit continues to stray away from the 1% goal.

Angela Cristea has also stated that the unemployment rate has reached the lowest level in the past 20 years, but there are still problems in terms of availability of labour force, because of Romanias ageing population.

In turn, the Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has said he was confident Romania will not exceed the budget deficit target set for this year: “Romania will submit a response to this country report by the end of April, and the document will highlight a number of carefully planned and quantifiable measures, which clearly show how we are maintaining the deficit below 3%.

According to data provided by the National Statistics Institute, the annual inflation rate has reached the highest level in the past 5 years, growing to 5% in March, from 4.7% in February, against the background of food products, non-food products and services becoming more expensive. In February, the National Bank of Romania revised upwards the inflation forecast for the end of this year, from 3.2% to 3.5%.

GRECO, the Group of States against Corruption, is worried about the Romanian justice laws

The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the Council of Europes anti-corruption monitoring body, is deeply worried about certain aspects relating to the laws on the status of magistrates, the functioning of the judiciary and of the Superior Council of Magistracy, recently passed by the Romanian Parliament. In a report published on Wednesday, GRECO expresses concern over the amendments to the criminal laws, discussed in the Romanian Parliament. GRECO has drawn up the document on the basis of a decision adopted at the December 2017 plenary session of the Council of Europe devoted to an emergency assessment of the reforms of the Romanian judiciary, given that such reforms might entail serious violations of anti-corruption standards. Perceived as a an attempt by the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats to bring magistrates under their sphere of influence and to put an end to the fight against corruption, the initiatives to amend the justice legislation have been harshly criticized by the right wing opposition, the media and civil society. Also, many people have protested in the street against these initiatives. In turn, representatives of the power have stated that the changes brought to the justice laws are in line with the rulings of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

The French Foreign Minister pays a visit to Bucharest

On Thursday, Romanias President Klaus Iohannis received the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. During the meeting, the Romanian president highlighted the importance that Romania attaches to its joining the Schengen agreement and voiced hope that France will support a decision to that end. Minister Le Drien stated that there is no reason why France would hamper Romanias Shengen accession prospects. He also said that, in the coming period, the dialogue between Romania and France will focus on European issues, defense and economic development. In turn, Klaus Iohannis highlighted the excellent Romanian – French relations, especially this year, which is marked by events of great significance such as the celebration of 10 years since the two countries signed the Strategic Partnership Declaration, the launch of the Romania–France cultural season and Romanias celebrating the centennial of the Great Union, to which France had a significant contribution.