Corruption – the main reason for Romanians leaving
A recent survey shows that 86% of Romanians see corruption as the main reason for leaving the country. Similarly, 91% Romanians believe that corruption is the reason why Romania doesn’t have new hospitals and highways. 87% believe that our country is not accessing more European funds also because of corruption. Corruption is impeding Romanians from having EU-standards pensions and salaries, said 84% of those surveyed. 82% believe that Romanians are not respected in Europe, i.e. Romania does not have the influence it deserves in the EU because of this phenomenon. Moreover, more than half of Romanians (52%) believe that our country did not join Schengen because of corruption.
According to the responses received, 94% of Romanians consider corruption to be widespread and very widespread in Romania.
“9 December is the International Anti-Corruption Day and an opportunity for reflection for the whole Romanian society, but especially for politicians, especially since the political field is considered by 45% of Romanians the most corrupt, followed at a great distance by the health system (15%), local government (14%), justice (6%) and police (3%)”, points out USR MEP Vlad Gheorghe, who commissioned the study.
Brussels warns of Romania not compliant with the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM)
Vlad Gheorghe (Renew MEP) warned that the new Romanian government’s programme could lead to EU sanctions if the indications on justice reforms are not respected.
“Romania is still under EU supervision through the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM). This mechanism was introduced in 2007 to solve the judicial problems and to fight against corruption. The fact that our country has not yet remedied the issues that brought us serious criticism in 2017-2019 is not seen in a positive light in Brussels”, recalls Gheorghe, one of the lawyers who successfully challenged the amendments to the justice laws at the Constitutional Court during this period.
“Romanians alike European leaders, do not believe in majestic declarations and speeches. They only trust facts and the reality they face. According to the survey, 43% Romanians had to pay a bribe to solve a problem in the last 2 years. 62% of respondents agree that corruption affects their daily lives. Therefore, the fight against corruption cannot and must not be stopped by personal, group or party interests pursued by those in power and occupying high positions in the Romanian state”, stresses Vlad Gheorghe.
It is also worth noting that an overwhelming percentage of survey participants link corruption to environmental crime: 91% believe it influences the import of illegal waste into Romania, while 89% believe that logging is closely linked to corruption.
Recently, USR MEP Vlad Gheorghe proposed the creation of a European Green Prosecutor to fight environmental crime in all EU member states, similar to the Prosecutor’s Office now headed by former DNA chief Laura Codruța Kövesi.
The survey was conducted by telephone nationwide between 28 November and 5 December 2021. There were 1400 people and the survey has a margin of error of 2.9% for a 95% confidence level.
