European Commission Optimistic About Closing Monitoring Mechanism by Its Term's End, Tells Sofia Benchmarks Need to Be Fulfilled before That

The European Commission released Wednesday its latest report in the context of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) applied to Bulgaria and outlined the conditions for ending the CVM. Acknowledging the progress that has been made during the past ten years and in the months after the previous report in 2016, the Commission says that at this stage it cannot yet conclude that the benchmarks set are satisfactorily fulfilled. It, however, remains optimistic that the goals can be achieved and CVM closed before the end of the mandate of this European Commission. 

Speaking to Bulgarian reporters in Brussels, EC First Vice-President Frans Timmermans expressed certainty that the CVM benchmarks can be fulfilled by the end of the mandate of this Commission. "It can be done. It needs to be done. We need to make sure that all of these changes are irreversible so that the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria can count on the fact that their justice system does exactly what needs to be done in a modern European country."

He said his confidence and optimism that the CVM goals will be attained, is  based on ten years of experience. "The government of Bulgaria has performed admirably in the last couple of years. If we continue that process in the same speed, I am sure we can accomplish what we need to do," he said.

 

 

BTA