ForMin Melescanu says Romania carries out a 'fairly constructive' dialogue with EU officials on justice laws

Romania is carrying out "a fairly constructive dialogue" with officials of the European Union regarding the justice laws and the "necessary explanations" will be provided when the laws are completed, Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu told Antena 3 private television station. 

He also referred to the statements of President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, made at the joint press conference with President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday. 

"He admitted very clearly that what needs to be done is that Romania observe the decisions of the Constitutional Court, which, with all due respect, is a matter we didn't need, because we all know that it is a fundamental principle of the rule of law - the observance of the Constitutional Court decisions, good or bad, [regardless of ] whether we agree with them or not," Melescanu said in respect to the statements of the European high official. 

Thus, the head of the Romanian diplomacy pointed out that there is a dialogue with representatives of the EU in this regard. 

"From this point of view, we are currently carrying out a dialogue, a fairly constructive dialogue, in which we have points of view. We will support them and offer the necessary explanations when this process ends. However, we are in a post-legislative process, before the enactment of these laws which have been adopted and we will have to see very clearly what [aspect] of these laws, precisely, generates problems," he highlighted. 

Teodor Melescanu also said that "there is nothing [included in] the three laws adopted that can prejudice the independence of justice or the good functioning of justice." "Practically, this is the reality," he concluded. 

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker stated on Wednesday, at the joint press conference with President Klaus Iohannis, that if the justice laws in Romania remain as adopted by Parliament, the discussions on the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) and the Schengen accession will be carried out "in other terms." 

"If the laws of Romania remain as adopted by Parliament, the discussions on the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism and the Schengen accession will be put in other terms. We await the decisions of the Constitutional Court and if everything goes well, we must ensure Romania its place in the Schengen area, because Romanians do not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens," said Jean-Claude Juncker.

He commended the development of the rule of law in Romania, but added that this process must be an "irreversible" one, adding that the European Commission will not accept for our country "to take steps backwards" on this road.

AGERPRES.