By Marcin Grajewski

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union criticised Romania on Wednesday for insufficient progress in fighting corruption, especially at high levels, but the Black Sea state avoided sanctions, unlike fellow newcomer Bulgaria.

The European Commission said in a special report that Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, faced political and judicial obstruction of the fight against graft.

"We need to see an unequivocal consensus, including from all parts of the parliament to rooting out high-level corruption," chief Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger told a news conference.

In June, a parliamentary committee recommended rejecting a request to investigate former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase on bribery allegations, and he and several former ministers have yet to be brought to trial on other corruption charges.

Judges often used questionable excuses to delay anti-draft proceedings, the report said.

"We also see frequent delays caused by judges sending cases back to the prosecution for minor reasons," Laitenberger said.

"We are also concerned by adjournments of proceedings, a lack of convictions and non-deterrent sentences in cases of high-level corruption."

The EU took the rare step of monitoring judicial reform and the fight against corruption in Bulgaria and Romania after many politicians complained in 2006 that the Black Sea neighbours were not ready for membership.