German Experts Predict Harsh CVM Report on Bulgaria

Marko Arndt, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Sofia office. Photo by kas.de

The European Commission's upcoming Co-operation and Verification Mechanism report will be negative for Bulgaria, German experts believe.

"Undoubtedly, Bulgaria has advanced significantly since 2007. The upcoming European Commission report will surely assess that progress," said Marko Arndt, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Sofia office.

"However, the reforms are not over yet, so the upcoming report will be most likely interim and not the last one," the expert has told reporters, as cited by BGNES. He pointed out that maintaining the mechanism will be in favor of both EU and the citizens.

"I do not believe this is discrimination. We want there reforms to continue and Bulgaria is taking the reforms very seriously," Arndt stated.

The EU will surely recognize Bulgaria and Romania's efforts, according to Thorsten Geissler, the director of the Rule of Law Program South East Europe.

However, Geissler is also convinced that the European Commission will demand further reforms.

Arrests and investigations have been carried out in Bulgaria, but no verdicts are being reached, he said. According to the expert, Bulgaria has to improve the work of its Prosecutors' Office.

Arndt and Geissler took part in a seminar dedicated to Bulgaria's judicial reform in the capital Sofia.

The European Commission will publish in July its monitoring report on law enforcement and the fight against corruption and organized crime in the two EU newcomers – Bulgaria and Romania.

The document is said to be crucial for Bulgaria, as it will indicate whether the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), which was established on the accession of Bulgaria to the EU to help it put in place an impartial, independent and effective judicial and administrative system, will be lifted in 2013 or be extended.