Romanian News

The European Commission is concerned about Romania's political instability that is slowing down judiciary and anti-corruption reforms, Brussels media said. Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu has fired government ministers who support Romanian President Traian Basescu, thus ending a center-right coalition after months of political disputes between the two men that has nearly paralyzed the country, the EU Observer said Tuesday.

On Monday, Tariceanu announced the list of his reshuffled Cabinet, made up of his Liberal party and members of an allied ethnic-Hungarian party. No member of Basescu's Democratic party or its supporters were included in the reshuffled government, which still has to be approved by parliament, where the parties are almost evenly split.

Romanian Justice Minister Monica Macovei was among those fired by Tariceanu. Brussels officials consider her as a leading reformer who helped Romania join the European Union on Jan. 1. EU officials will be visiting Romania probably later this month to check out what progress has been made in fighting organized crime and corruption. If not satisfied with results, Brussels may impose sanctions against the Romanian government, the report said.