Report on progress in Bulgaria under the cooperation and verification mechanism

The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) was set up at the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union in 2007 to address shortcomings in judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime. Since then, CVM reports have sought to help focus the efforts of the Bulgarian authorities through specific recommendations and have charted the progress made by Bulgaria. With the CVM having reached its tenth anniversary this year, the Commission is taking stock with an overview of the achievements, the challenges outstanding, and the remaining steps needed to achieve the CVM's objectives.

Judicial reform and the fight against corruption have been key issues for Bulgarian society over the past ten years. The CVM has an important role in Bulgaria as a driver for reform, as well as a tool to track progress. The Commission's conclusions and the methodology of the CVM have consistently received the support of the Council, as well as benefiting from cooperation and input from many Member States. Cooperation has also been reinforced by support to Bulgaria under EU Funds and more recently from targeted assistance coordinated by the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Service (SRSS).

This report looks back at the developments in Bulgaria since 2007. As in previous years, the report is the result of a careful analysis by the European Commission, drawing on close cooperation with the Bulgarian authorities, as well as the input of civil society and other stakeholders, including other Member States.

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 25/01/2017: Commission outlines conditions for ending Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Bulgaria on judicial reform, corruption and organised crime http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-129_en.htm

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)24, 25/01/2017: Bulgaria: Technical report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:24:FIN

European Commission: Assistance to Bulgaria and Romania under the CVM: The reports on progress in Bulgaria and Romania https://ec.europa.eu/info/effective-justice/rule-law/assistance-bulgaria-and-romania-under-cvm/reports-progress-bulgaria-and-romania_en

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News

EurActiv, 26/01/2017: Corruption failings keep Romania and Bulgaria on EU’s watchlist http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/opinion/corruption-failings-keep-romania-and-bulgaria-on-eus-watchlist/

EurActiv, 17/02/2017: Bulgaria’s interim government finds many irregular defence contracts http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/bulgarias-interim-government-finds-many-irregular-defence-contracts/

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