Romania's Monica Macovei to Discuss Anti-Corruption Practices in Bulgaria

The architect of the Romanian judicial reform, Monica Macovei is visiting Bulgaria to participate in a discussion forum on anti-corruption policies, as reported by the Bulgarian National Radio.

The event is organized by the newly-created civil initiative ''Justice for Everyone''.

Macovei served as a Minister of Justice in the period 2004-2007 and is currently holding a position of MEP from the European People's Party.

A number of analysts have atributed the Romanian judicial reform to her policies . She implemented the random case allocation, thus isolating the influence of the former secret police service in socialist Romania. She thus managed to create a relatively independent process for prosecutors. Now, a number of politicians, notable businessmen and magistrates were accused, prosecuted and even sent to jail.

''It's not the institution that's important, but the right person,'' Macovei said in an interview for NOVA Television. ''If a lot of people are stealing, then there is corruption scheme. Let's not lie about it, we do have corruption. If the chief anti-corruption officer is caught in the practice, then so be it.''

In Macovei's words, the Romanian model is in fact so successful not only because of the creation of independent anti-corruption organs, but also because magistrates became more independent.

Macovei is a firm defendant of the monitoring mechanism that the EU is executing upon both Bulgaria and Romania, because, as she has stated, it has been created to serve the people who want free justice, fight against corruption practices and equality before the law.