Save Romania Union (USR) parliamentarians held talks on Thursday with European Commissioner Michael McGrath, responsible for the Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection portfolio and currently on a visit to Bucharest, drawing attention to what they described as the "clearly negative" effects that the Justice Laws adopted four years ago have had on the judicial system.
In a press release sent to AGERPRES, USR MPs called for a "more rigorous" assessment under the Rule of Law mechanism and a firm stance on compliance with CJEU case law, urging Commissioner Michael McGrath to support the remedying of legislative dysfunctions. They cited the closure of hundreds of criminal cases, the retroactive application of certain rulings, a growing tendency to downplay the role of the CJEU, and hostile reactions towards magistrates and journalists who raise concerns about shortcomings in the judicial system or integrity issues involving certain ministers.
"Following the lifting of the CVM, the assessment of the functioning of the justice system has, in our view, been too lenient. There is a risk that the Rule of Law mechanism could turn into a formal exercise, in which Member States selectively present only their achievements. Without a firm evaluation, institutions weaken rapidly, and a vulnerable justice system affects not only the Member State concerned but the entire European Union," USR deputy Stelian Ion, former Minister of Justice was quoted as saying in the press release.
According to Diana Stoica, Chair of the Committee for European Affairs in the Chamber of Deputies, a weakened justice system threatens the functioning of democracy and undermines the entire European Union. "We also discussed the fragility of democracy and the European Democracy Shield. In the context of what we have seen recently and the hybrid war that certain states are waging against Romania, it is essential that freedom of expression be guaranteed for people, not for robots, not for artificial intelligence. This European Democracy Shield must translate into real measures to protect citizens against manipulation," she said.
USR considers that the clearly negative effects of the Justice Laws adopted in 2022 include the concentration of power in the hands of a limited number of individuals, a non-meritocratic promotion system based on loyalty, a Judicial Inspection body that discourages critical voices, as well as an ineffective mechanism for investigating offences committed by magistrates, which generates a perception of impunity.
USR MPs also told the European Commissioner that a viable solution would be to restore the powers of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in matters of corruption and organised crime.
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