16/12/2022 (Agence Europe) – Contrary to what we wrote in our last edition (see EUROPE 13085/5), Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is asking for two things in order to be able to approve the enlargement of the Schengen area to include Bulgaria: a new report from the Commission under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) and a new report under the Schengen Evaluation Mechanism, and not under the Schengen Information System (SIS), as was mistakenly stated. The second condition is already fulfilled, as such a report is foreseen, but the first condition is not, as the Commission considers that the CVM, which assesses the state of judicial independence and the fight against corruption in the country, was closed in 2019 for Bulgaria and replaced by annual rule of law reports produced for all Member States. (SP)