Brussels, 24/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 24 September, the “General Affairs” Council validated the conclusions of the European Commission concerning the situation of Romania and Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), according to a Council press release. The member states welcome the efforts made by the two countries to improve their justice systems and the fight against corruption, but at the same time call upon them to look at all of the “serious challenges” remaining. These two Commission reports were published on 18 July in the midst of a row between the European executive and the Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta, whose coalition had attempted to depose the President, Traian Basescu (see EUROPE 10658). The row has since abated, but it has scuppered Bucharest and Sofia's chances of joining the Schengen Zone in 2012, as was forecast in the spring.
In the conclusions it adopted, the Council welcomes the Commission's “objective and well-balanced” report and its recommendations. For Romania, the Commission said in July that the country was still struggling fully to integrate democratic functioning and even to understand it. As for Bulgaria, it criticised the serious problems related to organised crime. First of all, the Council reiterates “the importance of an unequivocal and sustained political commitment to meet the objectives set under the mechanism. The existence of an impartial, independent and effective administrative and judicial system, with sufficient resources, is indispensible for EU policies to function properly for citizens to benefit fully from all the opportunities offered by membership of the Union”.
Focusing on the weak points. Welcoming the reforms undertaken so far, the member states call on the two eastern European countries to focus on their weaknesses. Bulgaria should “redouble its efforts to obtain convincing and sustainable results in its fight against organised crime and high-level corruption”. The Council calls upon the country to step up its efforts in fully reforming its legal system and demonstrating that the authorities at all levels and in all sectors concerned are showing real, ongoing determination in this area.
As for Romania, the Council reiterates, “in the light of recent events in Romania”, the fundamental values on which the EU is founded. It welcomes the commitment made by the Romanian government to act without delay to guarantee respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, in line with the recommendations of the Commission. The member states “await with interest the concrete measures to be taken” before the next Commission report, scheduled for the autumn. By the end of 2012, the Commission is to publish a new CVM report, to take stock of the situation in Romania, after the general elections have been held. Bulgaria's efforts will not be analysed again until 2013. (SP/transl.fl)