European Commission spokesperson Mark Gray has for the first time spoken on the official stance in Brussels towards Romania's proposed changes to a series of judicial codes, including the Civil Code and Penal Code. These were recently adopted by the Government and forwarded for Parliament approval in a manner and substance which harshly criticized by Romanian media and media organizations. Also on Tuesday, Reporters Without Borders spoke up on the issue.

Mark Gray:"In its most recent report, the Commission stressed that an impact assessment of the Codes and a meaningful consultation process must take place. It is important that the new Codes are thoroughly discussed in society and among practitioners. The Commission will closely follow this process and believes that Romania must take its responsibility to ensure that the adoption of the new codes will further the judicial reform process in line with the commitments made by Romania at the time of accession".

Reporters Without Borders press release

Government tries to rush through civil and criminal codes reform curtailing right to information Reporters Without Borders and its partner organisation, the Media Monitoring Agency, condemn the restrictions on the right to information contained in a proposed reform of the criminal and civil codes which the government agreed on the 25th of February to submit to parliament on 11 March. “Articles in title II, section 3 of the proposed draft civil code, and article 225 in the draft criminal code regarding the right to privacy would significantly restrict research and investigation and a legitimate right to information," Reporters Without Borders and the Media Monitoring Agency said. "Everyone agrees on the need to protect privacy, but the terms and limits in this proposed reform would give free rein to the most restrictive interpretations". "As