EU calls on Romania's politicians to back fight against corruption

The European Commission urged Romania's politicians Wednesday (July 23rd) to show "unequivocal will" in rooting out corruption but refrained from applying the sanctions that Bulgaria suffered. By Valentina Pop for Southeast European Times in Bucharest -- 24/07/08 Romanian Minister of Justice Catalin Predoiu addresses the media in Bucharest after the EC released its report. [Getty Images] "The Commission strongly encourages Romania to intensify its efforts in fighting corruption," said Johannes Laitenberger, the European Commission (EC) spokesman in Brussels who presented a negative report on Romania's judicial reform and fight against corruption. He pointed out that Romania "has put the fundamental elements of a functioning system in place. But the foundation is still fragile." Although the EC did not hit Romania with any of... [read full story]