Brussels wins written pledges from Romania PM

(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission said Tuesday it had won written pledges from Romanian premier Victor Ponta on all its concerns over the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in his country.

After a telephone conversation Monday night, Ponta "has given further written commitments on the 11 points of concern raised by the Commission," the EU executive said in a statement.

His latest pledges supplement points in a letter he sent Monday, it added.

The additional commitments meant that, if implemented as announced, all demands made by European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in talks with Ponta on July 12 "have been met, or will be met," it added.

"Effective and speedy implementation" was crucial, the statement said.

The commission and Ponta have been involved in days of tense exchange over the centre-left government's controversial bid to impeach conservative President Traian Basescu and its changes by decree to the powers of its constitutional court.