No punishment for continued corruption
29.06.07
British newspapers have slammed criticism of Romania’s efforts to fight corruption, saying it is too lenient.
In a paper released on Wednesday the European Commission said Romania and Bulgaria have made insufficient progress in combating corruption, but no sanctions will be placed on them at the moment.
In an article on Thursday, The Times’ chief foreign commentator Bronwen Maddox wrote: "Yesterday’s “progress statement” on Bulgaria and Romania - which reveals just how little progress they have made on corruption and criminality - is remarkable for its deliberate mildness."
Some Romanians have suggested that the level of corruption was hidden before EU accession and that it has re-emerged with a vengeance in 2007.
But others have been more sympathetic to their country’s delayed development.
Software engineer Petru Dan said: “This country has only been in the process of democratisation for 17 years, it takes time to get experience, discipline and real professionalism in approaching political things…I think in time things will become normal.”
President Traian Basescu who survived a referendum on his position in May is known for his tough anti-corruption campaigning.
In reaction to the document he said in a statement: “[The report] reflects objectively the stage of the developments…especially in the domains of justice reform and combating corruption.”
