Lack of the rule of law : Brussels increases pressure on Poland and Romania

The EU Commission has increased due to the lack of the rule of law, the pressure on Poland and Romania. The authorities in Brussels announced on Wednesday a third infringement procedure against Poland. For Romania, the Commission's Deputy, Frans Timmermans, made a sharp and perhaps the last warning. In both cases, controversial judicial reforms are the reason for the criticism from Brussels. A series of new disciplinary measures for Polish judges pointed out, this "systematic political control of the Executive branch to make," said Timmermans. In Romania, the danger that "de facto" impunity for corrupt politicians is created.

At the end of penalty payments

The government in Warsaw had approved in December a set of rules for judges threaten. This would be aimed at the judge, "have participated in public debates about the ongoing reform of the judiciary" or "with questions to the European court of justice are turning," said Timmermans. Poland now has two months to respond to the allegations of the EU Commission. The Commission will assess this reaction, and Poland, where appropriate, subsequently before the European court of justice to sue. At the end of such proceedings, penalties could be imposed.

against Hungary in a procedure

The authorities in Brussels is going on since the beginning of 2016 due to several reforms of the judicial system against Poland to be running. She accuses the national conservative government in Warsaw, to curtail the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers to undermine it. Two infringement procedures against the country to run so already. In both cases, you must now decide the European court of justice.

In December 2017, Brussels also launched a hitherto unprecedented criminal case that may lead to the withdrawal of voting rights at the EU level. A unanimous decision of the member States would be necessary. Poland's ally, Hungary has already announced to vote against it. Against Hungary such criminal proceedings due to the violation of fundamental rights has also been running since September 2018 pursuant to article 7 of the EU Treaty.

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the government accuses judges of abuse of authority before

A contract, personal injury, or even criminal proceedings in accordance with article 7 before is probably also Romania. If "de facto" will be created in Romania, impunity for high-ranking politician convicted of corruption, will respond to the Commission's "hard", "immediately" and with "all available means", said Commission Vice-Timmermans. Interventions in the judicial system of the country had been introduced by the social democratic government in Bucharest last severe criticism. Head of government Viorica Dancila explained the laws and emergency regulations, "abuse of power" of judges to prevent, accusing them of a "parallel state" to build on. The Opposition complains that the government is to clean up the criminal records of a whole series of public officials.

Also, the "strong man" of Romania and head of the ruling social Democrats, Liviu Dragnea, has already been convicted multiple times, could by the Reform benefit. Although his party in 2016 had won the parliamentary election, he could not be because of his criminal record the head of government. Romania has held since January the six-monthly rotating presidency of the EU Council of member States. Among others, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had doubts at the end of December, the Suitability of Romania for the presidency of the Council open to the public.

The lawyer Laura with this was detained by the Romanian government to leave the country.Photo: Vadim Ghirda/dpa

Romania's Supreme court annulled the meantime the pads against the lawyer Laura Codruta with this. The former chief investigator of the National anti-corruption authority had been accused of corruption, abuse of office and false statement. With this running currently for the office as the head of the new European public Prosecutor's office. The government in Bucharest has been trying for weeks to impede the candidacy. The 45-Year-old had filed an appeal against the conditions imposed by the court, among other things, that she was not allowed to leave the country without the authorisation of the public Prosecutor's office. "My objection has been recognized." You could leave Romania right now, to get your application in Brussels to advance, said with this on Wednesday after the court decision. (AFP)