The European Commission announced that the progress made by Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is sufficient to meet this country’s commitments made at the time of its accession to the EU in 2007. However, the EC made it clear that before taking the final decision to conclude the monitoring mechanism on this country it will also take duly into account the observations of the Council and the European Parliament. But even if the Council and the EP agree with this position, the European Commission intends to replace the current Cooperation and Verification Mechanism with a new type of monitoring that would be applied not only to Bulgaria and Romania, but to Hungary and Poland as well.

The latest news from Brussels on the conclusion of the CVM are perceived too ambiguously in Bulgaria. According to the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, the recommendation of the EC on the conclusion of the monitoring mechanism over Bulgaria is not a reason for pride or joy, because it does not mean at all that the monitoring over Bulgaria ends. Bulgarian MEPs from the Progressive Alliance of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament made very controversial assessments. According to MEP Elena Yoncheva, the mechanism for control will be concluded not because it brought more justice and order in Bulgaria, but because it failed to fulfill its task. However, the MEP from the Party of European Socialists Sergey Stanishev contends that the latest report of the European Commission is good news and fully corresponds with the position of the Bulgarian MEPs from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats at the EP that the monitoring mechanism should be concluded.

MEP from Renew Europe group Ilhan Kyuchyuk reminded that the EC President Jean Claude Juncker was talking many times about the conclusion of the CVM and added that this is a political decision to a big extent, but there are also objective criteria Bulgaria has fulfilled over the years. The MEPs from Renew Europe group categorically said that they don’t see a problem in concluding the monitoring mechanism over Bulgaria, because it is a completely normal country.

Yesterday, Bulgaria’s Deputy Premier Ekaterina Zaharieva commented that the EC has not yet made a formal decision to conclude the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, because it is waiting for the position of the Council and the European Parliament. Minister Zaharieva pointed out that the EC should take the final decision and the latest report about Bulgaria is a reason to think that the current or the new European Commission will decide to conclude the CVM. As for the expected new monitoring mechanism, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister announced that Bulgaria would support the introduction of a comprehensive mechanism for monitoring of the rule of law and human rights that will apply to all 28 EU member states. Minister Zaharieva commented that the process of reforms in the system of justice and internal order will continue whether or not there is a mechanism for cooperation and verification.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov