Cooperation and Verification Mechanism
Bulgaria and Romania have joined the European Union on January 1st 2007, but under the condition to continue the reforms in the area of justice and rule of law. The compromise was sealed by a special monitoring mechanism, called Control and Verification Mechanism (CVM). Under that mechanism the European Commission monitors the implementation of reforms in several benchmarks and makes recommendations. Each year, the Commission presents a general report in July and an interim document in the beginning of the year.

The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) of the European Commission proved an obstacle not only for Bulgaria's membership in Schengen but the euro area, too. The July Eurogroup discussed Bulgaria's application for membership in the common currency and changed for the first time its ...

From the big-bang enlargement in 2004 onward, on the chair of the EU Council presidency sat various problematic states - with illiberal views (Hungary), countries in a de facto default (Cyprus, Greece), eurosceptics. However, it would be the first time that the presidency will be taken over by a ...

The EU Council of Ministers poured some cold water on all attempts of Bulgarian politicians at gaining the removal of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), through which the European Commission monitors the progress in creating an independent judiciary and the fight against corr ...

In a landmark moment like today when illiberalism is leading a fierce battle against the rule of law and democracy in emblematic states, the European Commission is making a serious retreat from one of the most important things, which ensure the rule of law and sound democracy - fighting corrupti ...

This article was supposed to have a different headline: “The European Commission removes its monitoring off Bulgaria next year”, but it was true for just a few minutes until one of the mysteries in Brussels on Thursday got revealed. Around lunchtime on December 15, it became known th ...

The first presentation of priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council in the European Parliament was also Bulgaria's first look in the European mirror. And the image there did not look good. This happened in the European Parliament's committee on civil liberties, justice and interna ...

The European Commission today discussed the EU's "nuclear option" regarding the most recent decisions of the Polish government with which the rule of law would be virtually completely destroyed. "Given the latest developments, we are coming very close to triggering article 7", said the Commiss ...

Some will say "Finally!", others - "They are late", and yet third ones will watch in disbelief, but ten years after its accession to the European Union Bulgaria finally has its first party, whose main task is fighting corruption. The party was founded at the beginning of the year, it is named "D ...

“In order for the EU to be effective in the disciplining of member states, it needs to be able to sanction. Cutting of EU funds because of problems with the rule of law in some of them might be a good idea”. This is the beginning of the commentary [in Croatian language] by ...

Last week the subject of rule of law in Poland once again got onto the agenda, after the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, who is responsible for the rule of law, reported to Members of the European Parliament on what was (not) achieved in the dialogue ...