Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Romania may end

The European Commission could put an end to the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) for Romania during the Commission’s current mandate, said EC President Jean Claude Juncker. He met Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos in Brussels on Monday. Romania and Bulgaria are separate cases, he added. “If Romania moves ahead Bulgaria, the mechanism will end for Romania,” Juncker said. Ciolos said that the European Commission’s decision would depend on the evolutions in Romania, including this year’s parliamentary elections. “It will be a test of responsibility for Romania, the Romanian society, and of course, the political class,” said Ciolos. The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism reports assess progress with judicial reform, the fight against corruption and, concerning Bulgaria, the fight against organized crime. The lifting of the CVM is one of the main conditions for Romania’s Schengen entry. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Gov.ro)