EU presses Romania over corruption

Romania has been told to work harder to fight corruption, notably through justice reforms. Speaking at the national parliament, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged Bucharest to show political commitment to reforms needed to benefit fully from being part of the European Union.

According to the network Transparency International, Romania is the most corruption-prone country in the EU, which it joined this January.

Barroso also met the president, Traian Basescu, and Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.

The head of the EU executive body also said Romania has to increase efforts to integrate its community of Roma Gypsies. It is the largest in Europe, at more than two million people, according to estimates by non-governmental institutions.

A lack of knowledge about and the failure to implement anti-discrimination legislation are persistent EU concerns, over such areas as employment, education, health and housing.

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