Romania's prime minister dismissed suggestions Tuesday that the country is not prepared to take over the rotating presidency of the European Union next year, despite criticism from the EU that the country is backsliding on democratic reforms.
"I assure you that Romania is ready... logistically and from an organizational point of view," Premier Viorica Dancila said.
On Monday, President Klaus Iohannis said Romania was "totally unprepared" to take over the six-month leadership of the EU on Jan. 1.
Dancila's comment came as the European Commission called on the country to immediately suspend the implementation of new judicial laws and appointments of prosecutors and complained the nation was moving backward on democratic reforms following years of progress.
Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said the EU executive set out eight recommendations for "immediate follow up" to increase the independence of the judiciary and toughen the fight against corruption.
Timmermans also said media freedom needs to be better respected.
The timing of the criticism is awkward since Romania takes over the rotating presidency of the EU in less than two months.
Earlier Tuesday, The European Parliament passed a resolution recommending Romania strike down measures "which would decriminalize corruption in office," amid concerns over a contentious judicial overhaul the bloc says undermines the anti-corruption fight.
Dancila, a little-known politician, became premier in January but has little executive power. Liviu Dragnea, the chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party basically runs the government but can't be prime minister because of a conviction for vote-rigging.
President Iohannis called the EU report "devastating" and asked politicians of all stripes to wake up "and act at once."
