Foreign Affairs Minister: Romania Opposes Tying EU Funds To Rule Of Law

Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu told AFP on Tuesday that the country opposes the European Union’s plan to condition access to its funds to the state of the rule of law, arguing that the judicial system should be “the prerogative of each country”.

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“If someone could tell me which criteria defines the rule of law, I would be prepared to discuss this (…) I do not think that such an association should exist. EU funds are a fundamental element on which the entire philosophy of the EU is built,” Melescanu said in interview for the French news agency.

The minister also reiterated that recent criticized judicial reforms were passed “transparently” by authorities in Bucharest, and that Romania has a “stable and solid democracy”.

The European Parliament recently passed a draft resolution which would make the suspension of EU funds payments possible in cases where state governments meddle in judicial affairs or don’t fight corruption and fraud efficiently. The project is currently negotiated with members of the EU Council.

The Romanian foreign minister also told AFP that Poland and Hungary, member-states which are the subject of Article 7 of the EU treaty for “serious violations of the principles of the rule of law”, should be allowed to “present their arguments and respond” to the accusations.

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