THE PRIORITIES OF THE NEW ROMANIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE, MONICA MACOVEI
Radio Romania International Transcript
At a press conference, the new Minister of Justice, Monica Macovei spelled out the priorities of her team. Monica Macovei said she had no political affiliation and assured Romanians she would serve the public interest. This week, the new Minister of Justice is looking into the activity of the institution she is heading, planning to delegate some of the responsibilities of the Ministry of Justice to the Higher Magistrature Council, as provided by the law on magistrates’ careers. The new minister’s priorities are similar to the EU requirements, as Monica Macovei points out:
Soundbite: “The first short term objective is to meet the requirements that came with the completion of the “Justice and Home Affairs” chapter. As you very well know, the deadlines are extremely tight. For January we have slated draft laws and other legislative measures. By March, we have to draw up and complete action plans with concrete measures for the implementation of the Justice reform laws, which were passed in 2004; these action plans need to provide not only for the measures to be taken but also for the human and financial resources necessary for their implementation.
Another key issue is the random assignment of cases which would ensure that judges are not appointed based on vested interests. Among the conditions laid down by the European Union there is one stipulating that a control on anti-corruption activity should be carried out by an independent body. This refers to the activity of the National Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the prosecutor’s offices, the ministry and all those institutions involved in the fight against corruption.
Another priority is a survey of the courts and prosecutor’s offices administrative system so as to answer the needs of these institutions, as well as of the magistrates and of the parties of a trial and to streamline the legal process, make it more transparent and more coherent. I intend to bring changes to the archives system, the courts of law and I am also considering reducing the duration of a trial in order to give justice a friendly face.”
The Minister of Justice also mentioned the highest points on the agenda, namely two draft laws that need to be drawn up in the course of this month. Monica Macovei again.
Soundbite: “High on the agenda is lifting the immunity of former officials as well as updating the officials’ wealth statements and statement of conflicting interests. According to the European Union, the existing ones are insufficiently clear and transparent, eluding the control of the authorities.” Monica Macovei has urged all magistrates, judges and prosecutors to be independent and assured them, that, in her position as minister of justice, she would never interfere with a court ruling."