Balkan neighbours defend record on corruption

BULGARIA:Bulgaria and Romania have defended their records on crime and corruption during their first three months as EU members, in reports aimed at persuading Brussels not to freeze vital funding.

The Balkan neighbours had until today to file details of their efforts to reduce the rampant graft that threatened their bids for accession, and which prompted Brussels to reserve the right to withhold millions of euro if it is not satisfied with their reforms.

"I am categorical that significant results have been achieved, especially in curbing crime . . . Bulgaria has no reason to feel ashamed," said interior minister Rumen Petkov yesterday. "The principle of zero tolerance towards corruption at all levels continues to be a priority for the Bulgarian government," he added, noting that investigators had opened some 1,700 corruption cases since October, with around 300 people being sentenced for graft and 95 on organised crime charges.

In a bid to avoid sanctions when the EU delivers its response to the progress report in June, Bulgaria's government approved a draft law this week to create an inspectorate to monitor courts and levy fines against wayward judges, prosecutors and investigators.

"The law aims to strengthen the independence and the efficiency of the judiciary," the government said. "The reforms will ensure the implementation of EU justice standards."

However, Sofia is still widely criticised for failing to convict any powerful officials for corruption or jail any major mafia figures involved in the scores of gangland killings that have blighted Bulgaria in recent years.

In its own progress report to Brussels, Romania claimed to have brought its legal system closer to EU norms, improved the training of its judges and prosecutors and charged some 200 people in major corruption cases since last September.

But the government admitted to falling short in certain "sensitive" areas, particularly by allowing delays in the creation of a national anti-corruption agency that would monitor the finances of politicians and magistrates with a view to stamping out rampant bribery.

EU officials and western diplomats have raised concerns in recent weeks that a fierce power struggle between president Traian Basescu and the prime minister Calin Tariceanu could hamper the anti-corruption drive and even see key personnel - like the well-regarded justice minister Monica Macovei - ousted from the cabinet.

"We need to be realistic and recognise recent political turmoil has raised doubts beyond Romania's borders," Nicholas Taubman, the US ambassador to Bucharest, said this week.

"It is very important for Romania to continue to make progress on key areas like justice reform and in fighting corruption," he said. "Losing traction on these reforms would not send the right signal to Romania's partners. We can only hope that things settle down, sooner rather than later."

Mr Tariceanu says Romanians are "witnessing the death" of a coalition between his Liberal party and the Democrats, loyal to Mr Basescu, which came to power in late 2004 promising to crush corruption and lead the country into the EU.

Romania's EU partners would not look kindly on the dismissal of Ms Macovei, an ally of the president who is seen as a driving force behind the fight against graft.

"A cabinet without Monica Macovei will be less credible, both internally and abroad, in Brussels," warned Sorin Ionita of the Romanian Academic Society think tank.