BRUSSELS, July 21 (UPI) -- The Romanian president says the European Commission has gone too far in saying his country is not meeting its European Union obligations.
Traian Basescu made the comment after the EU released a report criticizing Romania's corruption fighting efforts while praising Bulgaria for its reforms, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 but both countries have been under special scrutiny due to concerns over high levels of corruption.
The report issued by the European Commission on Tuesday said Romania failed to show "sufficient political commitment to support and provide direction to the reform process."
It said Romania's performance revealed "important shortcomings."
The main reason for the commission's disapproval appears to involve efforts to undermine Romania's National Integrity Agency, which is examining conflicts of interest and people with unexplained wealth.
