The new EC rule of law report notes - interference and pressure on the judiciary by government representatives, amendments to the Criminal Code, the procedure for dismissing the former public prosecutor, high corruption in public procurement and healthcare.
The Brussels document states that the independence of the judiciary and the autonomy of the public prosecution service have been undermined by insufficient budgetary resources, and government officials have directed personal criticism at judges and public prosecutors. It says that the dismissal procedure against the public prosecutor revealed a risk of politicization and ultimately led to his resignation.
– Interference and pressure from other branches of government continue to raise serious concerns regarding respect for the independence of the judiciary. Elected officials and government representatives have intensified their personal criticism of judges and public prosecutors, accusing them of corruption, and statements have been made by the highest government structures about plans to “purge” the judiciary and the prosecution. Such statements risk undermining the independence of the judiciary and the principle of separation of powers. The dismissal procedure of the Chief Public Prosecutor has revealed a risk of politicization and shortcomings in the dismissal rules, the document states.
The report states that the inadequate legal framework, especially the amendments to the Criminal Code of 2023, insufficient human and financial resources, as well as the long duration of court proceedings, continue to represent key obstacles in the fight against corruption.
According to Brussels, high-profile corruption cases rarely end with final convictions, which further fuels a sense of impunity. The report also assesses that the efficiency of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in prosecuting organized crime and corruption remains limited, with the main reasons being the large number of cases, the insufficient number of public prosecutors, outdated technical equipment and the lack of financial resources.
-Despite recent efforts to investigate and prosecute corruption, delays in court proceedings, rare final judgments and limited resources continue to hinder the establishment of a strong track record in high-level corruption cases. The results in the fight against corruption, especially in cases involving high-ranking public officials, remained at about the same level as in the previous reporting period, the document states.
Corruption in public procurement and healthcare remains a serious challenge, Brussels says. The report notes that the public procurement system is vulnerable to corruption, with limited competition and underdeveloped anti-corruption mechanisms, while widespread petty corruption is still present in public healthcare.
Regarding the work of the Parliament, the European Commission reports that efficiency has improved, but that a significant number of laws were adopted through a shortened procedure.
