On 31 October 2017, the Romanian Minister of Justice
submitted a draft law to be debated by the Parliament, regarding
the amendment on Law no. 303/2004, 317/2004 and 304/2004, on the
organisation and functioning of judicial institutions.
Although the first amendments were introduced by the Government
supposedly in order to comply with the decisions of the
Constitutional Court, the draft has nonetheless triggered
substantial criticism, debates and street protests.
Therefore the draft law and proposed amendments thereto continued
to be debated in a Special Parliamentary Committee.
In addition, the Vice President of the European Commission,
Frans Timmermans, intervened and suggested that approval for the
draft be first obtained from the advisory body of the Council of
Europe for judicial changes, the Venice Commission.
