Brussels, 17/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Commission reports (CVM - Cooperation and Verification Mechanism), expected on Wednesday, on the progress made by Bulgaria and Romania on tackling corruption and crime will be critical and the verification mechanism extended, according to several Bulgarian news media, quoted by AFP. The daily Troud and state television BNT expect the verification mechanism to be extended, “with some procedural amendments”. Organised crime remains a massive challenge for Bulgaria, according to a draft report cited by Troud. Bulgarian criminal gangs specialising in people trafficking and credit card fraud are active in 15 European countries. “These gangs exercise significant influence on the Bulgarian economy”, says the draft report. “This restricts competition and deters foreign investment and gives these groups a platform from which to influence the political process and state institutions”. For Romania, in the midst of an institutional war between former President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Brussels questions “the engagement of the government to respect the supremacy of the law” and says “the political challenges to court rulings, the undermining of the constitutional court, the reversal of established procedures and the suppression of key elements of democratic control” put “under serious threat the progress achieved so far”. The recent moves by the Romanian government raise serious concern over respect for the basic principles of democracy, according to Troud. (SP/transl.rt)