Rareș Bogdan: "They did not let me into the debate with closed doors on the rule of law" / Sources: S&D proposed judges Gârbovan and Ciucă

The PNL MEP reveals that he was refused entry to the monitoring group meeting, while political sources confirm that the socialists imposed controversial names from the judiciary on the list.

Brussels, January 29, 2026 – A tense meeting with closed doors of the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG) in the European Parliament, dedicated to Romania, has sparked controversy regarding the selection of speakers and the exclusion of national MEPs. Rareș Bogdan (EPP) confirmed that he was denied access, while political sources revealed the list of proposed invitees from rival groups.

In short Rareș Bogdan stated that he wanted to participate as an observer, but was refused on the grounds that it is not appropriate for a Romanian MEP to attend a closed-door debate. The EPP's proposals to invite Věra Jourová and Vlad Nistor were rejected on the basis of mandate and expertise. Political sources indicate that the S&D group proposed judges Dana Gârbovan and Andreea Ciucă, while the ECR proposed lawyer Florentin Țuca. Rareș Bogdan, a member of the LIBE Committee, explained that the DRFMG – a working group chaired by Belgian MEP Sophie Wilmès (Renew) – is currently analyzing the situation in Romania, after a similar session on Poland took place in December. "I wanted to participate, but as a Romanian MEP they considered it inappropriate for me to participate even as an observer in the debate, the debate being behind closed doors, so they did not accept me, unfortunately," Bogdan stated. The liberal MEP also detailed the failed attempts of the EPP to nominate speakers. "We proposed Věra Jourová and Vlad Nistor. It was not accepted," Bogdan said. He explained that the reason for the refusal in Jourová's case was that she "no longer has an institutional mandate" and her presence would generate "institutional ambiguity." In Vlad Nistor's case, the committee did not identify a "specific and current expertise" directly related to justice and anti-corruption issues. Although the meeting is confidential, sources revealed to the press the list of speakers proposed by the other political groups. According to these sources, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group proposed as speakers Andreea Ciucă, the president of the Târgu Mureș Court of Appeal, a magistrate with criminal issues, and Dana Gârbovan, the president of the Cluj Court of Appeal. Additionally, the same sources indicate that the ECR group nominated legal expert Florentin Țuca, while the Greens/EFA Group came up with a longer list of institutions, including the Minister of Justice and the Constitutional Court.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/rares-bogdan-nu-m-au-primit-la-dezbaterea-cu-usile-inchise-pe-statul-de-drept-surse-sd-le-a-propus-pe-judecatoarele-garbovan-si-ciuca