Transfer of prisoners and minors with some of the files stolen
The Ministers of Justice of Italy and Romania, Carlo Nordio e Alina Stefania Gorghiu, signed a joint declaration this morning in via Arenula, in order to intensify bilateral judicial cooperation in both criminal and civil matters.
This is a follow-up to the summit between the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu last February 15 in Rome.
Among the points of the joint declaration, the common intent to improve the mechanism of mutual surrender of definitively convicted persons, within the limits of the autonomy and independence of the respective judicial authorities; and to promote the social reintegration of prisoners, facilitating the possibility that those definitively convicted - as provided for by the Gai 909/2008 framework decision - serve their sentences in their country of origin. A total of 2.148 Romanian citizens were present in Italian penitentiary institutions as of 29 February 2024; 23 Italians were detained in Romania.
A joint working group is established, aimed at improving cooperation in particular in the implementation of European arrest warrants and in the recognition of judicial decisions in criminal matters.
Another point of the joint declaration concerns the issue of international child abduction. There are currently 17 legal proceedings open in Italy for children brought illicitly to Romania by one of their parents. On this topic, the two Ministers undertake to intensify the activities of the specific joint technical table, established on 12 June 2023, so that concrete solutions to existing critical issues can be identified quickly, in application of the European harmonization legislation in the priority interest of minors.
The joint declaration also provides for the strengthening of judicial cooperation in civil matters, of fundamental importance for consolidating economic relations and interpersonal exchanges between Italy and Romania. In this context, the two Ministers focused in particular on the importance of encouraging the use of mediation to improve the effectiveness of justice.
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