Csaba Sógor in the EP: The restitution process in danger of being reversed in Romania
Does Romania meet the criteria of rule of law, which was a precondition for joining the EU? - asked Csaba Sógor at the December plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where he informed the MEPs about the restitution process in Romania, which was not only stopped but reversed recently.
The RMDSZ MEP talked about the decision of a Romanian court of appeal, which renationalized a school building previously returned to its rightful owner, the Reformed Church, annulling the restitution decision.
“The case is all the more sensitive, as it creates a dangerous precedent, which jeopardises all progress made so far in the restitution process. I would like to point out that upon its accession to the EU Romania has agreed to fully return to the rightful owners all properties nationalised during the communist regime. The necessary laws were drafted and adopted, yet, the courts’ interpretation of the law may reverse the whole restitution process”, pointed out Csaba Sógor, underlining that the decision is all the more outrageous because through it innocent officials were convicted, who only carried out their duties.”
„The court definitively and irrevocably sentenced three people who applied the law in good faith and made possible the restitution of not one, but of thousands of nationalised properties. This decision seriously questions weather Romania meets the criteria of rule of law, which was a precondition for joining the EU ”, declared the MEP.
