The European Commission is considering lifting a monitoring mechanism that sanctions states that do not respect the rule of law.
Commissioners were discussing the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) on Tuesday in Brussels, sources said.
Launched in 2007, the CVM evaluates the progress made by Bulgaria and Romania in the fields of judicial reforms, anti-corruption and, in Bulgaria’s case, the fight against corruption and money laundering.
After a final report is made public, it will be sent to the EU Council, which needs to make a formal proposal to lift the CVM. That will then be submitted to both the European Parliament and the EU Council, the sources said.
The “conditionality” mechanism is a procedure in force since January 2021 that allows the suspension of the payment of EU funds to a country where violations of the rule of law are found that may harm the EU’s financial interests.
A possible suspension or reduction of payments of EU funds must be supported by at least 15 member states out of 27, representing 65% of the EU population, and such a procedure would take between six and nine months.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă declared said in October during a visit to Brussels that there were prospects for Romania to have the CVM lifted.
European Commission is tapping its foot on Romanian special pension reforms
