Bulgaria MEPs Holding Discussion on CVM Mechanism in Brussels

A conference aimed at discussing the effect of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) on Bulgaria is due to be held on Wednesday in Brussels, the Bulgarian National Radio reports.

The forum, organized by MEPs from the three biggest parties (conservative GERB, socialist BSP, and liberal DPS), will focus on options for improving the CVM introduced for both Bulgaria and Romania upon the two countries' accession into the EU in 2007.

Some of the MEPs have called the mechanism "discriminatory", arguing it is based on vague criteria and should be removed.

On Tuesday, the EU's General Affairs Council approved conclusions of member states on the CVM reports about Bulgaria and Romania's judicial systems and fight against corruption and organized crime. The conclusions backed all recommendations issued with regard to Bulgaria and noted the progress of Romania highlighted in the respective document, but also included a commitment to continue monitoring both countries.

A number of Bulgarian officials, such as Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov, Supreme Administrative Court head Georgi Kolev, Chief Judicial Inspector Teodora Tochkova, and Deputy Justice Minister Krasimira Filipova.

EU Commission Deputy Secretary General Paraskevi Michou, who is also Acting Director-General for Justice and Consumers at the European Commission, has also been invited.