European Union officials have expressed their concern over the Romanian Constitutional Court's decision to uphold the Parliament's suspension of center-right President Traian Basescu.

European Commission President Manuel Barroso has asked Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta to come to Brussels Thursday to discuss the country's political turmoil, according to international media.

"We are concerned by the speed and consequences of decisions taken over the last few weeks," European Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen has commented.

On Monday, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel also criticized the Romanian government's bid to get rid of Basescu, saying it "views it as unacceptable that basic principles of the rule of law are violated in a European Union country."

"I don't think Mrs. Merkel will be the one voting in Romania in the referendum," Romanian PM Victor Ponta argued, as cited by Bloomberg. He believes that nobody could challenge the right of the Romanian people to say their opinion about the President.

Basescu stepped down Tuesday until a referendum on an impeachment procedure against him is carried out July 29.

Tuesday Basescu officially transferred his powers to Romanian Senate President Crin Antonescu on closed doors and without either making a public statement.

The procedure was started on allegations that Basescu has overstepped his constitutional powers, especially in the field of foreign policy, against Ponta's left-wing cabinet.

As per the Romanian Constitution, citizens will have to decide the fate of their president by a referendum, which has been scheduled for July 29.

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