DNA, after the CVM report: We will continue to fight high level corruption

The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) has reacted on Wednesday to the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report issued on Tuesday by the European Commission, arguing it will continue to fight the high level corruption.

“The DNA leadership has learned about the CVM report’s content. It is to be noted that the report, as objective no.3, named ‘Fight against the high level corruption’ is related to the durability of the DNA and the irreversibility of the fight against corruption,” ziare.com reports.

DNA underlines it will continue to fight the high level corruption, by meeting its legal attributions, with professionalism and impartiality.

“The observations made by DNA during the legal amendments regarding the judicial system and the criminal codes are similar to the ones expressed by the CVM report. (…) DNA expresses hope that the key institutions in Romania will act by making proof of firm commitment to the judiciary independence and to the fight against corruption,” the release reads.

The European Commission adopted on Tuesday its latest report on developments in Romania to meet its commitments on judicial reform and the fight against corruption, in the context of the CVM.

The report takes stock of the situation since November 2017. It notes that while Romania has taken some steps to implement the final 12 recommendations issued by the Commission in January 2017, in order to fulfil the CVM benchmarks, recent developments have reversed the course of progress and called into question the positive assessment made back in January 2017. This applies notably to judicial independence, judicial reform and tackling high-level corruption. Therefore, the report also sets out a number of additional recommendations for immediate follow up.