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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW 21-27/07/2008 |
| (2008-07-25) |
| Last updated: 2008-07-28 16:18 EET |
First a look at the main stories:
- The European Union criticised Romania in a special report on Wednesday for dragging its feet in fighting corruption, and will therefore still keep a close eye on it.
- The Italian authorities started fingerprinting almost 10,000 Roma living on the outskirts of the capital Rome.
The Government of Romania has strengthened efforts and made some headway in reforming the judicial system, but not enough to make Brussels suspend the verification and co-operation mechanism – this was the conclusion of a report released Wednesday by the European Commission. The lack of determination in fighting high-level corruption is the key criticism made against Romania. The document notes the progress made by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, but Brussels wants more concrete results, and calls on Romania to prove the unequivocal commitment of all political forces to fighting corruption. Authorities in Bucharest regard the report as objective, balanced and realistic. According to Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, “the positive developments mentioned in the report indicate that Romania is on the right track, while the criticism help Romanian authorities identify solutions to the pending problems in the judiciary.” justice Minister Catalin Predoiu believes that better cooperation between public institution is needed in order for problems in the judiciary to be resolved:
“The report explicitly confirms that Romania is once again on the right track, that of implementing reforms in the justice system. We are aware that a number of problems related to the functioning of the justice system and the fight against corruption are yet to be addressed. We are ready to carry on cooperation with the other public institutions involved.”
Prosecutor general of Romania Codruta Kovesi agrees with the EC conclusions regarding the DNA investigations and the Parliament's resistance to closing high-level corruption files:
“Whether we like it or not, the report is an objective snapshot of the judicial system in Romania, and I can only be glad to see that the document makes it clear that managerial measures taken in view of enhancing the efficiency of prosecutors' work are showing results.”
Leaders of parties in power regard the document as an incentive for further reforms, whereas the Opposition used the opportunity to point an accusing finger at the current government.
Romanian pensioners have this week received good news: as of November 1st they will receive 20 per cent more money. The pension increase, initially scheduled for January 2009, is possible due to the surplus in the social security budget, the Labour Minister Paul Pacuraru explained. According to him, the pension calculation point will account for 45 per cent of the national average gross salary, that is close to 700 lei (200 Euros).
The beginning of this week has seen the start of a census programme involving the approximately ten thousand Roma living in 70 temporary camps outside Rome. According to authorities, the measure is aimed at collecting information on the civil status and health of these people. Unlike Naples, where the census is carried out by the police, which are also in charge with fingerprinting the gypsies, in Rome the programme is implemented by the Red Cross, with nomads offered a choice on whether to answer a set of questions. Similar actions will be initiated in other Italian cities as well. The Berlusconi government has regulated a new public position, that of “high commissioners for the Roma,” who are in charge with census operations in Roma camps in Rome, Naples (southern Italy) and Milan (north), primarily by means of fingerprinting adults and children. But the measure came under harsh criticism in Italy and in Europe. In Bucharest, Interior Minister Cristian David said the issue of illegal camps was mostly of a social—rather than criminal—nature, and ought to be addressed by means of social programmes. Fingerprinting, the Romanian official added, does not solve this problem.
Knights, princesses, wizards, clowns, minstrels and dancers are this weekend re-creating the medieval atmosphere of the City of Sighisoara, in central Romania. The 16th annual Medieval Art Festival, already a tradition and a symbol of Sighisoara, will bring together internationally renowned artists from Italy, Greece, Poland and Romania. Festival includes medieval dance shows and courses, mask and costume parades, performances by knightly orders, poetry readings and concerts, street performances, comedy shows, puppet plays, fireworks, as well as contemporary art exhibitions.
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