Security depends on Judges, not just Generals

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph recently  William Hague argued that Ukraine’s future security depends crucially on dismantling the oligarchic state that characterised Yanukovych’s rule and taking resolute steps to tackle corruption. And he advocated more determined action in tackling corruption in the Balkans as well, to ensure strong, stable and democratic states in this part of Europe as they become more integrated with the European Union too.

Tomorrow, judges and prosecutors from eleven Members of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) will gather in Bucharest for a two day conference on tackling corruption and strengthening the rule of law. The conference is hosted by the Romanian Government, and sponsored by the British Embassy in Bucharest, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Rule of Law Program South East Europe and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Senior judges and prosecutors from the UK and Germany will be taking part too.

Bucharest is the right place to hold the event. Not just because Romania is currently chairing the SEECP, but because in recent years Romania has been engaged in one of the most significant anti-corruption campaigns in Europe since the collapse of communism twenty-five years ago. Specialised agencies like the Anti-Corruption Directorate of the Procuracy (the DNA) and the National Integrity Agency (ANI) have been vigorous and assiduous in holding politicians to higher standards in public life and in prosecuting those guilty of corruption.

In 2011 the DNA secured 298 convictions on corruption charges. This rose to 743 in 2012 and last year it reached 1051. These have included the highest-ranking politicians – Ministers and MPs, mayors and Presidents of County Councils – and the seizure of millions of Euros from corrupt deals (€335 million in 2013).  The DNA has also acted against their own colleagues in the magistracy – judges and prosecutors – that have failed to uphold the standards of their profession.

Romania’s courts are establishing a fundamental principle – that no-one is above the law. In time, this is changing the climate in the country – for business, for politics, for the evolution of vibrant democratic institutions. It is making the Romanian state stronger and less vulnerable, more secure and more successful as a NATO ally and a member of the European Union.

In the four years of my mandate as Ambassador here – which ends with this conference – this has been the most remarkable evolution in Romania. Throughout this period the British Embassy has been fully involved in providing the reformers with technical assistance, advice and support, and will continue to do so in the future.

Romania has a rich, practical and relevant experience to share with other SEECP members next week. This is an essential contribution that Romania can make to the future security of Europe.