The World Bank Report No: ISR15463 Implementation Status & Results Romania Judicial Reform (P090309) Public Disclosure Copy Operation Name: Judicial Reform (P090309) Project Stage: Implementation Seq.No: 15 Status: ARCHIVED Archive Date: 12-Jul-2014 Country: Romania Approval FY: 2006 Product Line: IBRD/IDA Region: EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Implementing Agency(ies): Key Dates Board Approval Date 15-Dec-2005 Original Closing Date 01-Apr-2011 Planned Mid Term Review Date 01-May-2009 Last Archived ISR Date 29-Dec-2013 Effectiveness Date 26-May-2006 Revised Closing Date 31-Mar-2015 Actual Mid Term Review Date 15-May-2009 Project Development Objectives Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document) The project's development objectives are: (i) to increase the efficiency of the Romanian courts; and (ii) to improve the accountability of the judiciary which should result in reduced corruption and a more transparent act of justice. Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project? Yes No Component(s) Component Name Component Cost Court Infrastructure Rehabilitation 85.00 Strengthening of the Administrative Capacity of Courts 11.05 Court Information System 21.50 Institutional Development of Judicial Institutions 6.61 Overall Ratings Public Disclosure Copy Previous Rating Current Rating Progress towards achievement of PDO Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Moderately Satisfactory Moderately Unsatisfactory Overall Risk Rating Moderate Moderate Implementation Status Overview Between May 26-30, 2014 the Task Team visited Romania to conduct an implementation support mission. On the one hand, the mission found that many activities continue being implemented as planned, including the adoption of the first Romanian Insolvency Code and civil works in Iasi (93 % finalized), Cluj (85 %) and Oradea (35 %). On the other hand, the implementation of the Resource Management System is now falling behind schedule due to implementation challenges. The mission agreed with the Romanian authorities to implement it in modules rather than through a "big bang" approach to address current implementation challenges and to ensure a maximum of implementation of the system before Page 1 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR15463 Project closing. A detailed Action Plan was agreed upon with the Ministry of Justice to ensure effective implementation. Other activities continue lagging behind due to insufficient provision of budget funds for the Project. This remains an issue of concern which was raised as early as 2012. It hinders overall implementation progress and negatively affects the ability of the Project to fully achieve its development objectives. The initial budget allocation for 2014 of RON 45 million was insufficient and about half of what was needed to ensure smooth and timely implementation. In the meantime, additional RON 10 million of commitment credits have been transferred from the Ministry of Culture to the Ministry of Justice for Public Disclosure Copy the implementation of this Project. The Ministry of Public Finance has declared its intention to allocate all the required funds at the July 2014 budget rectification if the Ministry of Justice is able to spend the allocated budget. The Ministry of Justice estimates the need for the period from July to December, 2014 to be RON 75.2 million budgetary credits and RON 131.6 million commitment credits. Locations No Location data has been entered Results Project Development Objective Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Improvements to judicial efficiency in pilot Text Value 11,224 cases in 5 randomly 26.08% (cumulative data – Improved efficiency measured courts. chosen 5 pilot courts 2013 compared to 2008 by 10% increase in the baseline). number of cases disposed of or archived in pilot courts. Date 31-Dec-2008 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Indicator revised in the Target achieved restructuring. Rehabilitation/construction of at least 15 Text Value 0 court buildings 12 courthouses are in line Met international standards in courthouses in line with international standards with international standards. the rehabilitation/ construction (standards for better accommodations for trials, of at least 15 court buildings public access and security features). completed. Date 31-Dec-2008 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Indicator revised in the 2 to be completed by restructuring. September, 2014. 3 more under construction and 1 under procurement. Public Disclosure Copy Information required to increase the capacity of Text Value RMS not in place. Implementation status: 50% RMS system installed and the jud'l sys available through establishment of overall contract; RMS functioning; and data a functioning RMS and such information/data functional solution: Subject to published quarterly for the published quarterly by MOJ, SCM & HCCJ verification past year (since 2012). websites. Date 31-Dec-2007 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Indicator revised in the The implementation status of restructuring. the functional solution needs to be verified. It is anticipated to be lower than the 85 % Page 2 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR15463 indicated previously by the supplier. Improvements to judicial transparency through Text Value No publications of (a) actual Regular annual/quarterly [annual/quarterly] publication courts' websites... cort performance data, or (b) publication of available data in Public Disclosure Copy data from periodic user the past two years (2011 & surveys conducted, are 2012). available to be published on the websites of the respective courts and the SCM. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Indicator revised in the Dropped in the new version of restructuring. the results framework. Intermediate Results Indicators Indicator Name Core Unit of Measure Baseline Current End Target Rehabilitation/construction of at least 15 court Text Value 0 renovated court buildings. 12 courthouses are in line At least 15 buildings buildings. with international standards. completed. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Indicator revised in the 2 to be completed by restructuring. September, 2014. 3 more under construction and 1 under procurement. New design standards used in rehabilitation Text Value No standards were All courts rehabilitated and New design standards used and construction of court buildings. developed. constructed under the Project for the court buildings are based on designs in line constructed in the last two with international standards. years (2011 & 2012). Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Indicator revised in the restructuring. 10% decrease of average time required to Text Value n/a At least a 10% decrease. dispose of cases in 5 courts rehabilitated under Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2013 Public Disclosure Copy this project. Comments Indicator revised in the Dropped in the new version of restructuring. the results framework, because there is no baseline. 10% increase in a total number of court Text Value 9882 court hearings in 5 88.64% increase (2013 - At least a 10% increase. hearings in 5 courts rehabilitated under the courts rehabilitated under the 18642 court hearings in 5 project. project. courts rehabilitated). Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments New indicator added in the (2013 in comparison with restructuring. 2008 baseline) Page 3 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR15463 Recommendations to optimize courts# activity Text Value No recommendations to A consultancy on Recommendations adopted are adopted by the SCM. optimize courts# activity in "Determining and by SCM. place. implementing the optimal volume of work of judges and Public Disclosure Copy court clerks and ensuring the quality of the courts’ activity" was procured and the contract was finalized in April 2013. The Consultant s recommendations were adopted by the SCM on March 28, 2013 (SCM Decision no.392 for the approval of the Final Report). Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Indicator revised in the Target achieved. restructuring. Uniform standards for operational processes Text Value Realistic time/workload 3 individual KPIs, namely 1. Uniformity in operational developed and country-wide implementation standards (based on EU/ Clearance Rate, 2. Case (case time handling and started. International standards) for Stock Over One Year Old, optimal workload) standards handling the cases in courts, and 3. Cases Closed Within (for handling court cases) were not developed as yet. One Year were elaborated. achieved. The country wide implementation of these indicators started with the following 11 courts of different degrees of jurisdiction: 1. High Court of Cassation and Justice, Bucharest; Courts of Appeal: 2. Brasov, 3. Bucharest, 4. Craiova, and 5. Ploiesti; Tribunal Courts: 6. Bucharest, 7.Iasi, 8.Timis; and First Instance Courts Public Disclosure Copy (Judecatoria): 9.Bucharest Sector 1, 10.Bucharest Sector 4, and 11. Timisoara. In order to ensure continuity and sustainability, all the recommendations comprised in the Final Report of the above mentionedassignment, were included in the Judicial Page 4 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR15463 System Strategy for 2014-2018 Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Public Disclosure Copy Comments Indicator revised in the Target achieved restructuring. An RMS for core justice sector entities enables Text Value RMS not in place. Implementation status: 50% Sustained use of the RMS. pilot justice sector entities to collect mgt info overall contract; RMS data... functional solution: Subject to verification. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments New indicator. The implementation status of the functional solution needs to be verified. It is anticipated to be lower than the 85 % indicated previously by the supplier SCM effectively assumes functions of budget Text Value SCM is not assigned with SCM effectively assumes all planning, policy formulation and performance functions of budget planning, the indicated functions. monitoring. policy formulation and performance monitoring. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments Dropped in the new version of the results framework. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is Text Value No LSAT in place Magistrates’ recruitment A formal regulation regarding formally embedded into magistrates# regulation was modified by the continuous use of LSAT recruitment procedures. SCM decision no 869/2009, test for magistrates formally embedding LSAT. requirement adopted by the NIM. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2013 Comments New Indicator. Target achieved. Conduct of periodic internal (within the judicial Text Value No surveys conducted. The Baseline survey was 3 surveys conducted and Public Disclosure Copy system) and external surveys of individuals and finalized. Another survey results disseminated. firms and publication of results. related to the activity of all courts was conducted and completed during the impact studies of the four new codes. The MoJ published the impact studies online in January 2012. "Intermediate Survey" is on- going. The Survey is to collect information on actual court Page 5 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR15463 performance and user feedback and is to be published on court websites Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Public Disclosure Copy Comments New Indicator. NIM and NSC design and apply web-based Text Value No quarterly reports 3 quarterly reports published user feedback survey for all courses and published. based on user feedback. publish quarterly results. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments New Indicator. Dropped in the new version of the results framework. New/amended Criminal Procedure Code and Text Value Codes not in place. All Codes adopted in the All 4 Codes adodpted in the Civil Procedure Code adopted by Parliament Parliament and enforced. Parliament and enforced. and came into force. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments New indicator. Target achieved. Impact assessment of four Codes (Civil Code, Text Value No impact assessment Impact assessment studies TA that would provide impact Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Code and conducted. finalized on November 30, assessment of 4 Codes under Criminal Procedure Code) completed and 2011. implementation. accepted by SCM and MOJ. Date 15-Mar-2006 20-May-2014 31-Mar-2015 Comments New indicator. Target achieved. Data on Financial Performance (as of 19-Jun-2014) Financial Agreement(s) Key Dates Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Original Closing Date Revised Closing Date P090309 IBRD-48110 Effective 15-Dec-2005 27-Jan-2006 26-May-2006 01-Apr-2011 31-Mar-2015 Disbursements (in Millions) Project Ln/Cr/Tf Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed P090309 IBRD-48110 Effective USD 130.00 130.00 0.00 90.40 58.66 70.00 Public Disclosure Copy Disbursement Graph Page 6 of 7 The World Bank Report No: ISR15463 Public Disclosure Copy Key Decisions Regarding Implementation None. Restructuring History Level two Approved on 06-Oct-2010, Level two Approved on 24-Sep-2011, Level two Approved on 17-Dec-2012 Related Projects There are no related projects. Public Disclosure Copy Page 7 of 7