Romania

Based on a draft questionnaire, the present study offers a national report on the EU accession procedure of Romania (2007), focusing on both the historical trajectory of the Romanian accession path and its milestone events, as well as on the specific features that distinguish it from the integration process of countries in a comparable situation. This paper presents in detail the key elements that helped reverse the initial negative opinion of the Commission on Romania’s European accession (1997), as well as institutions and procedures of accession and their activity. An examination of the legal criteria the country was obliged to satisfy, as well that of the country-specific provisions contained in the EU Accession Agreement of Romania is also offered, the study being concluded with a chapter dedicated to the special provisions on facilitating the smooth accession and simultaneously, the safeguarding of the proper functioning of EU policies and institutions (the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, setting out benchmarks to provide the framework for monitoring progress in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption).