Democracy in Romania
International IDEA Launches New Study

Press Release:

“Democracy in Romania”
International IDEA launches new study

Bucharest, 3 June 1997 -- The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) launched a report today on the state of democratic transition in Romania. The 150-page book “Democracy in Romania” highlights that Romania is at a “crossroads between two models of exit from communism, the Central European ‘model’ of successful transition and the Balkan pattern marked by failed reform, social unrest and political instability.”

“Democracy in Romania” identifies six priority areas to facilitate a successful transition: increasing governmental capacity; separating politics from the judiciary; decentralizing and finding more support for local government; strengthening the civil society; successfully implementing economic reforms, and safeguarding minority rights.

The report, the result of a process of dialogue between Romanians and leading experts on political transitions from Europe and the United States, brings to light new approaches for consolidating democratic transition.

Mr. Leo Tindemans, Member of the European Parliament and former Prime Minister of Belgium, who worked with the International IDEA team, explains: “This report does not offer ready-made solutions, but it does recommend long-term realistic approaches to strengthen the democratic process in Romania. These recommendations are aimed at politicians and professionals as well as concerned organizations outside of the country.”

The new approaches suggested in the Report will be actively followed-up in the coming months. Among the international agencies supporting democratic development in Romania International IDEA will mediate required assistance for the implementation of these new initiatives.

“This report is a platform for further discussion and action”, explained IDEA Senior Executive Ms. Tanja Petovar. “We hope it will initiate a series of meetings and round table discussions among policy-makers, leaders of the civil society and donors working in Romania. International IDEA will help transform the recommendations into real changes.”

International IDEA has also compiled and listed democracy assistance given to Romania from 1994 - 1996. This overview will be published, as an annex to “Democracy in Romania”, in July 1997.

“Democracy in Romania” was presented to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Senate and the Chairman of the Parliament today. Mr. Tindemans and representatives of International IDEA will also present the report to President Constantinescu before leaving Bucharest.

The report will be presented at a reception at the European Parliament in Brussels at the end of June. As Leo Tindemans writes in the Introduction: “The reforms recommended in this report to strengthen democracy will most certainly be enhanced by the further integration of Romania within the institutions of Europe and, in particular, of the European Union.”

International IDEA hopes that this in-depth analysis will not only focus attention on the situation in Romania, but will also illuminate important steps that need to be taken to consolidate a democratic transition throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) was founded in February 1995. The Institute’s overall objective is to promote and advance sustainable democracy world-wide and to improve and consolidate electoral processes. To date, Members are Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Costa Rica, Chile, Denmark, Finland, India, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, the International Press Institute, and Parliamentarians for Global Action. The Institute also has co-operative agreements with the International Commission of Jurists, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the United Nations Development Programme. Switzerland also contributes to the work of the Institute.