changes and challenges - Universiteit van Amsterdam

243 Pages·2009·2.23 MB·English

Romania and the European Union

changes and challenges
CoRe Studies II
EUROPEAN POLICY STUDIES

Romania and the European Union
Changes and Challenges

Country Report Series II (CORE-series)
European Policy Studies
Universiteit van Amsterdam
© 2009, E. Albers, H. Annaji, N.A. Beek, W. Beeking, J.R. Boerman, J.M.F. den Bouwmeester, E. de Mol, S.
Rossitto, K.S. Schipper, S. Schreuder, R.J.C. Schroevers, O.E. Spiekman, J.G. Suiskind, M.J.B. van der Vorle, C.
de Waal.

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ISBN 978-90-807611-5-5
Romania and the European Union
Changes and Challenges

Country Report Series II (CORE-series)
European Policy Studies
Universiteit van Amsterdam

Supervisor: dr. A.C. van Wageningen

July 2009
Acknowledgement

We, fifteen students enrolled in the Master programme European Policy of the University of
Amsterdam, examined the changes Romania has gone through and the challenges it continues
to face in Romania’s accession and integration into the European Union.

We would like to thank all persons, organisations, companies and public administrative
bodies that have assisted through cooperating and sharing their knowledge (see appendix 3).
Without their support this research project would not have been possible. Our special thanks
go out to Gabriël Badescu, Toma Burean, Florin Fesnic, Carmen Greab, Irina Kantor and the
students of the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration of the University
Babes-Bolyai of Cluj-Napoca who contributed to our project. Furthermore, we would like to
thank Mioara Pitut of the Romanian Embassy in the Netherlands and Dorin Perie of the
University of Amsterdam. We would also like to thank our course supervisor Anne van
Wageningen for his support and for giving us the opportunity to carry out this research
project.

This report is a collective effort for which we all take responsibility. It should be emphasised
that this report must be seen as a study project as it is part of the Master programme European
Policy.
Preface
I am proud to present the second of a series of country reports, in short the CORE series, of
the master European Policy Studies. This report is about Romania. In 1989 Romania has
changed dictatorial rule to democratic rule. Since 1989, Romania has also been engaged in a
transition from a state led economy to a market economy. In 2007 Romania joined the
European Union as a member state. It is safe to say that Romania has made some enormous
changes in a period of no more than 20 years.

Under my supervision and as a part of their master European Policy Studies, 15 students of
the Universiteit of Amsterdam have organised a field research trip to Romania to investigate
the aforementioned transitions and to address the question of the Romanian integration in the
European Union. They had a political, legal and economical focus underpinned by a cultural
and historical background. Their research has been interdisciplinary and this report shows just
that. They combined desk research with interviews in Cluj-Napoca, Jucu-de-Sus and
Bucarest. In only 14 weeks they have obtained insight in the internal affairs of Romania, its
relationship with the European Union and some important problems still waiting to be solved.

Romania has changed enormously. The cover photos resume these changes well. Still, some
serious endeavours lie ahead for the Romanian people. Corruption, the modernisation of the
infrastructure, the quality and content of education, the improvement of the judicial
procedures and the development of a competitive agriculture are some of the Herculean tasks
ahead for Romania. A mentality change is another. Romanian society at large could benefit
from a more proactive attitude.
Nevertheless, after obtaining the membership of the European Union, the same Union and the
other Member States were quick to withdraw their administrative support, leaving Romania
on its own to comply with the acquis communautaire. Member States keep underestimating
the impact of forty years of entirely different histories.

The wealth of this report not only stems from the information that the students gathered and
analysed, it also is the result of the chosen interdisciplinary approach. This enabled the
students to draw conclusions surpassing a single disciplinary approach. They thus proved that
some inferences about our complex social reality can only be made after interdisciplinary
research. Therefore once again, the second CORE-study clearly demonstrates the necessity of
and need for interdisciplinary studies like European studies, particularly European Policy
Studies.

I took pleasure in coaching and accompanying these students. They were very much involved
in making a success of this course. For them, the course itself was an adventure, as no preset
course material was available. They had to find their own information and make a
comprehensive selection. They were not discouraged by last minute changes in organising
their interviews. During their collaboration they showed a genuine team spirit. This report
proves for it.
Finally, I want to thank Dr. Dorin Perie, colleague and also expert on Romania, for his
contribution to the field trip. His historical explanations were of great help to the students to
understand some complex issues of Romanian society. Of course I want to thank the fifteen
participating students for their enthusiasm and their infinite dedication, which by far exceeded
the demands of a compulsory assignment.

Dr. A.C. van Wageningen
Amsterdam, July 2009
Contents
Acknowledgement.........................................................................................................................4
Preface............................................................................................................................................5
List of figures...............................................................................................................................12
List of abbreviations....................................................................................................................13
Introduction.................................................................................................................................17
1 History of Romania and the Romanians................................................................................19
1.1 Earliest roots: Daco-Romans..................................................................................................................19
1.2 The Middle Ages and the rise of the Great Empires...............................................................................19
1.3 The First World War and the formation of Greater Romania.................................................................21
1.4 The interwar period and the Second World War....................................................................................22
1.5 Communism: 1944 – 1965 Gheorghiu-Dej’s rule..................................................................................23
1.6 Communism: 1965-1989 Ceausescu’s rule............................................................................................26
2. Romanian national identity....................................................................................................31
2.1 Before communism................................................................................................................................31
2.2 From communism to the European Union..............................................................................................32
2.3 Religion and folklore..............................................................................................................................32
2.4 Perception of Romania abroad...............................................................................................................34
2.5 National Minorities.................................................................................................................................35
2.5.1 The legal and institutional framework as regards minorities...............................................................36
2.5.2 Hungarians...........................................................................................................................................36
2.5.3 Roma...................................................................................................................................................39
2.6 Cultural Policy........................................................................................................................................43
2.7 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................44
3. Constitution of Romania.........................................................................................................47
3.1 Constitutional order of Romania............................................................................................................47
3.2 The Constitution before 1991.................................................................................................................47
3.3 The transition and the establishment of the new Constitution after 1991...............................................47
3.3.1 The Constitution of 1991.....................................................................................................................48
3.4 Current Constitution...............................................................................................................................48
3.5 Separation of Powers within the Constitution........................................................................................49
3.5.1 The role of the people in the dismissal of the President......................................................................50
4. Romanian Polity......................................................................................................................51
4.1 Executive power.....................................................................................................................................51
4.1.1 Head of State.......................................................................................................................................51
4.1.2 Government.........................................................................................................................................51
4.2 Legislative Power...................................................................................................................................52
4.2.1 Parliamentary History..........................................................................................................................52
4.2.2 Organisation and Functions of the Parliament.....................................................................................52
4.3 Local Administration..............................................................................................................................53
4.4 Electoral system......................................................................................................................................54
4.4.1 Effects of the new electoral system.....................................................................................................55
4.4.2 Candidates for the presidential elections 2009....................................................................................56
5. Judicial system.........................................................................................................................57
5.1 Courts.....................................................................................................................................................57
5.2 Constitutional Court...............................................................................................................................58
5.3 Public Ministry.......................................................................................................................................58
5.4 The Superior Council of Magistracy......................................................................................................58
5.5 Police......................................................................................................................................................59
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5.6 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................60
6. Political parties in Romania...................................................................................................61
6.1 From a one-party system to a multiple party democracy........................................................................61
6.1.1 The National Salvation Front (FSN)....................................................................................................61
6.2 Current represented parties in the parliament.........................................................................................62
6.2.1 Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L)........................................................................................................62
6.2.2 PSD-PC...............................................................................................................................................63
6.2.2.1 The Social Democratic Party (PSD).................................................................................................63
6.2.2.2 Conservative Party (PC)...................................................................................................................63
6.2.3 Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).....................................................................64
6.2.4 National Liberal party (PNL)..............................................................................................................65
6.2.5 National minorities` organisations.......................................................................................................65
6.3 Other parties...........................................................................................................................................66
6.3.1 Greater Romania Party (PRM)............................................................................................................66
6.3.2 The New Generation Party - Christian Democratic (PNG-CD)..........................................................66
7. Romania in the European Parliament...................................................................................69
7.1 Before the elections................................................................................................................................69
7.2 The elections of 2007.............................................................................................................................70
7.3 Expectations elections 2009...................................................................................................................70
8. Political identity, ideology and stability.................................................................................73
8.1 Political identity and a lack of ideology.................................................................................................73
8.2 Political stability.....................................................................................................................................74
9. The state of Romanian democracy.........................................................................................75
9.1 National democratic governance............................................................................................................75
9.2 Local democratic governance.................................................................................................................75
9.3 Elections.................................................................................................................................................76
9.3.1Coalition for a Clean Parliament..........................................................................................................76
9.4 Media: freedom of speech and self censorship.......................................................................................77
9.5 Media: private ownership structures.......................................................................................................78
9.6 Media: public ownership........................................................................................................................79
9.7 Media: conclusion..................................................................................................................................80
9.8 Politics and anti-corruption efforts.........................................................................................................80
10. Foreign Policy........................................................................................................................81
10.1 Membership of international organisations..........................................................................................81
10.1.1 Romania and the NATO....................................................................................................................81
10.1.2. Current NATO missions...................................................................................................................81
10.2 Regional Cooperation...........................................................................................................................82
10.3 Relations with Russia...........................................................................................................................82
10.4 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................83
11. Social Structures....................................................................................................................85
11.1 The non-profit sector in Romania.........................................................................................................85
11.1.1 Law on the non-profit sector.............................................................................................................85
11.1.2 The civil society................................................................................................................................86
11.1.3 Funding..............................................................................................................................................87
11.1.3.1 Pre-accession assistance.................................................................................................................87
Romania and pre-accession assistance.........................................................................................................88
Structural and Cohesion Funds.....................................................................................................................88
11.1.3.2 Romania and the Structural and Cohesion Funds...........................................................................89
Applying for EU funds.................................................................................................................................89
11.2 Romania and its citizens.......................................................................................................................90
11.2.1 The state and its citizens....................................................................................................................90
11.2.2 Citizens and their rights.....................................................................................................................91
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11.2.3. The national Ombudsman.................................................................................................................92
11.3 Daily corruption....................................................................................................................................93
11.4 Education..............................................................................................................................................94
11.4.1 Romanian educational system...........................................................................................................94
11.4.2 Quality of education..........................................................................................................................95
11.4.3 Human resources in education...........................................................................................................96
11.4.4 Quality of human capital...................................................................................................................96
11.5 A few remarks on the future of civil society in Romania.....................................................................97
12. Human Rights........................................................................................................................99
12.1 Political and Social Rights....................................................................................................................99
12.2 Children’s rights.................................................................................................................................100
12.3 Women’s Rights.................................................................................................................................102
12.4 Minority Rights..................................................................................................................................105
12.4.1 Post-1989: the rise of nationalistic extremism................................................................................108
12.4.2 Nationalistic actors: PUNR, PRM and Orthodox extremism.........................................................108
13. Corruption and judicial reforms........................................................................................111
13.1 Corruption in the judicial system in Romania after 1989...................................................................111
13.2 National Anti-Corruption Directorate.................................................................................................113
13.3 Challenges for the judicial system in the years before accession into the EU....................................114
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13.4 The pre-accession process of Romania and the 2006 Monitoring Report..........................................115
13.4.1 Justice system..................................................................................................................................116
13.4.2 Superior Council of Magistrates......................................................................................................116
13.4.3 Budgetary and planning...................................................................................................................116
13.4.4 Points of concern.............................................................................................................................116
13.4.5 Fighting corruption..........................................................................................................................117
13.4.6 DNA investigations.........................................................................................................................117
13.4.7 DGA................................................................................................................................................118
13.4.8 Points of concern.............................................................................................................................118
13.4.9 Effective restitution of property.......................................................................................................118
13.5 EU reports on judicial reforms and corruption after Romania’s accession........................................119
13.6 Main problems in the judicial field and fight against corruption today..............................................120
13.6.1 Capacity problem.............................................................................................................................120
13.6.2 Case problem and lack of transparency...........................................................................................121
13.6.3 Lack of support and lack of accountability......................................................................................122
13.6.4 Implementation problem..................................................................................................................122
13.6.5 Lack of confidence in judicial system.............................................................................................123
13.7 Progress in the judicial field...............................................................................................................123
13. 8 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................125
13.8.1 Education.........................................................................................................................................126
13.8.2 Human rights...................................................................................................................................126
13.8.3 Nationalism extremism....................................................................................................................127
13.8.4 Judicial Reforms and Corruption.....................................................................................................127
13.8.5 Current situation..............................................................................................................................128
14. Privatisation and restructuring..........................................................................................129
14.1 The privatisation pipeline...................................................................................................................130
14.2 Acceleration of privatisation..............................................................................................................131
14.3 The steel industry in transition...........................................................................................................132
14.4 Future restructuring and macro-economic stability............................................................................132
15. Macro-economic situation...................................................................................................133
15.1 Overview of macro-economic indicators 2000-2008.........................................................................133
15.2 Romania and the financial crisis.........................................................................................................133
15.2.1 Building up imbalances 2002-2007.................................................................................................134
15.2.2 Emerging financial crisis.................................................................................................................134
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