Corruption has always been a hot topic on the Balkans. Be it for the region’s communist background, economic backwardness or some other reason, bribery and graft have been present in the everyday life of the Balkan people to an extent incomprehensible to the average Westerner. They would remain startled, some even entertained, when told that in many parts of the peninsula there is the option of giving money to a traffic police official to avoid punishment for speeding, for example.

Large-scale high-level corruption, however, has proven to be an entirely different matter in which the Western part of the European continent has firmly stated that it is unamused. In late July, the European Commission (EC) issued its latest reports on Bulgaria’s and Romania’s progress in combating corruption and organised crime, in which it severely criticised both countries for failing to live up to European standards of transparency and accountability. While Bulgaria was harshly punished by the suspension of hundreds of millions of euro in funding, Romania escaped with only a warning. But will it manage to convince the European monitors it can start treading the right course?

The answer is still unclear as recent events in Bulgaria’s northern neighbour point at different directions. On August 26, the upper chamber of the Romanian parliament approved the start of an investigation into two Romanian senators, one a former and the other a current minister, on allegations of corruption. While former economy minister Codrut Seres is accused of espionage, treason and leaking information, current labour minister Paul Pacuraru faces accusations of bribe-taking and nepotism, the Associated Press reported.

This move, stemming from events in preceding weeks, undoubtedly seems a positive step for Romania on its way towards satisfying the EU’s requirements. A more in-depth look at the situation, however, raises concerns it could be mere window-dressing as a substitute for not pursuing another major case. 

On August 13, parliament rejected a request to launch an investigation into former Romanian prime minister Adrian Nastase and former transport minister Miron Mitrea, two of the most influential politicians in the Social Democrat party, for alleged corruption. The decision was quickly condemned by Romania’s public and press as one that could only worsen the country’s image in the eyes of the EU. Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Graham Watson was quoted by the Romanian press as saying it was a pity that parliament was “trying to shelter someone suspected of rather significant wrongdoing’’ and warned the move would make it extremely difficult for Romania to win praise in its next report, euractiv.com reported.

“I don’t think this is a good decision for the functioning of the justice system,” Bogdan Olteanu, speaker of the lower house, the chamber of deputies, and a member of the ruling National Liberal Party said, as quoted by the AP.

A few days before parliament’s decision on the Nastase case, another event caused turmoil in Romania’s governing circles.

Daniel Morar, the chief prosecutor of the country’s anti-corruption directorate, was dismissed by the justice minister as his three-year term expired. The EC had paid tribute to Morar’s work in its report as he had won public approval for trying to score big in the fight against corruption by going after many high-ranking officials. On the other hand, there were those who saw political motivation behind Morar’s every move, saying his main targets were the political opponents of Romanian president Traian Basescu, whose support the prosecutor boasted. Morar’s dismissal was widely seen as a means to secure a safer environment for those who feared prosecution. “This is very bad news for Romania. It sends a clear message that whoever starts (investigating) big files will end up like this,” Laura Stefan from Romanian Academic Society think-tank said, as quoted by Reuters.

Only time will show whether Morar’s proposed successor, Monica Serbanescu, will prove sceptics wrong.