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Liberal Democrats to challenge accession of 'corrupt' Romania
October 5, 2004 12:51 PM
Sarah Ludford told the Romanian Ambassador to the EU that she strongly supports Romanian accession in principle, her strongly-expressed worries about the country's EU-preparedness being meant constructively in the hope that Romania's reforms will speed up.
A European Parliament challenge to plans for Romania to join the EU by 2007 is to be led by Liberal Democrats. They argue that after years of negotiations the country is still farther from meeting the basic requirements for EU membership than Turkey is already.
"Romania suffers from endemic problems of corruption, lacks an independent judiciary, has an inadequate free press, and has not halted torture carried out by police officers," commented Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat justice spokesman in the European Parliament.
"Laws are being changed but the country has no mechanism to make them work in practice. The country does not yet comply with the EU's 'Copenhagen' criteria for human rights and democracy, and does not appear likely to do so within the next three years."
The European Commission is still negotiating with the Romanian government three of the 'chapters' required for EU membership. Officials admit that the most problematic is that relating to justice and home affairs.
Amnesty International's most recent report highlights numerous reports of police torture and ill-treatment. The organisation claims that corruption affects all aspects of society and undermines the government's ability to promote respect for basic rights. Trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation remains a serious problem and no effective action is being taken to protect victims.
The UK Government is one of the strongest advocates of early Romanian accession, arguing that 'strategic' considerations override doubts about the state of human rights and democracy in the country.
But Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, who in the past have been amongst the leading supporters of the enlargement process, are insisting that the accession of Romania risks undermining core EU values.
Chris Davies claims that cross-party concerns about Romania are growing and that the European Parliament could yet reject an early accession agreement.
He said: "Decision day is drawing near and everyone is starting to realise that the issues can no longer be swept under the carpet. Values must be maintained, and there is a risk that we could tip the balance by letting in a still rotten apple.
"The pressure for reform must be maintained, and the EU negotiating process is the only effective means by which this can be achieved. If a political agreement allows Romania to join the EU in 2007 the fundamental problems of that country may never be properly addressed."
"It's ironic, but Turkey may even now be in a better state to join the EU than Romania is at the end of the negotiating process."
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