Is Romania at risk of backsliding over corruption and the rule of law?

When Romania joined the European Union in 2007, a 'Cooperation and Verification Mechanism' was established to assess the country's progress in implementing judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures. However, the latest report published on 15 November raised concerns over potential backsliding, particularly in the area of judicial independence. Corina Lacatus assesses how Romania can respond to the concerns raised in the report and what they mean for the overall effectiveness of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.