Progress Reports on the Cooperation and Verification mechanism - procedural aspects
23 July 2008by eub2 -- last modified 23 July 2008
The Commission approved on 23 July 2008 a series of reports assessing the progress in Bulgaria and Romania of judicial reform and the fight against corruption under the Co-operation and Verification mechanisms set up when both countries joined the EU last year. These reports assess the progress and shortcomings that exist in Bulgaria and Romania on the commitments made at the time of accession. The Commission concludes that genuine efforts and some progress have been made, mainly in terms of judicial reform but much more needs to be done by both countries to fight high level corruption and in Bulgaria on organised crime. The reports highlight the need for sustained political commitment and implementation on the ground if the benchmarks set at the time of accession are to be met in full. The reports put forward a series of concrete follow up measures. Progress in meeting the benchmarks and in dispelling doubts about the two countries ability to deal with corruption will allow their citizens to reap the full benefits of EU membership and enhance their confidence in the rule of law.
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What are these reports?
When Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007 shortcomings remained in judicial reform, the fight against corruption (and the fight against crime in Bulgaria) which entailed the risk that both countries would not be able to correctly apply community law and that their citizens would not be able to fully enjoy their rights as EU citizens. In order to assist Bulgaria and Romania to remedy these shortcomings the Commission decided to create a Cooperation and Verification mechanism and to prepare reports on progress in both countries every six months. A first yearly report was adopted by the Commission on 27 June 2007 and a further interim report was presented on 4 February 2008.
Methodology for the reports
The reports have been drawn up from an array of information sources. The Bulgarian and Romanian Government have been a primary source of information. Information and analyses were also received from the EC Representation Office and Member State diplomatic missions in Bulgaria and Romania, civil society organisations, associations and expert reports. The Commission organised missions to both countries between April and June 2008 together with independent experts from Member States. The purpose was to seek independent assessment of progress.
In line with requests from the Commission, Bulgaria and Romania have submitted a series of progress reports under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.
What is the cooperation and verification mechanism for the judiciary and the fight against corruption?
The Commission established a mechanism to cooperate and verify progress within the reform of the judiciary and in the fight against corruption and organised crime after accession. This is based on the commitments made by both countries at the time of accession. Under the mechanism, both Bulgaria and Romania agreed to report regularly on progress in addressing specific benchmarks. The Commission has provided internal and external expertise to cooperate and give guidance in the reform process and to verify progress. The Commission's reports assess whether the benchmarks have been met, need to be adjusted and may request further reports on progress if necessary. The mechanism will continue until all the benchmarks have been met. The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is coordinated by the Secretariat General under the authority of the President.
The mechanism foresees a list of benchmarks that should guide Romania and Bulgaria in their reform efforts. The Commission uses these benchmarks in its technical assessment to measure the progress achieved by Bulgaria or Romania.
Should either country fail to address the benchmarks adequately, the Commission may apply the safeguard measures of the Accession Treaty (see below).
What are the benchmarks that the two countries have to meet?
A full list of the six benchmarks for Bulgaria and the four benchmarks for Romania are provided in annex
What are the safeguard clauses?
Safeguard mechanisms of last resort which are triggered either to prevent or to remedy particular problems or threats to the functioning of the Union. Any measures taken should be proportional to the corresponding shortcomings.
The EU legal order, which applies to all Member States, provides many safeguard measures in the various EU policies.
In addition to this, the Accession Treaty for Bulgaria and Romania provides for further safety nets to address potential accession related difficulties. The following three safeguards can be invoked up to 3 years after accession:
- a general economic safeguard clause; (Article 36)
- a specific internal market safeguard clause; (Article 37)
- a specific justice and home affairs safeguard clause, (Article 38)
These safeguards are the same as the ones included in the Accession Treaty of the Member States who joined on 1 May 2004.
What is the general economic safeguard clause?
The general economic safeguard clause is a traditional trade policy measure. It aims to deal with adjustment difficulties which an economic sector or area in either old or new Member States may experience as a result of accession. Member States (new and old) may apply, during a period of three years after accession, for authorisation to take protective measures in order to remedy such economic difficulties. The European Commission may then decide such measures. They can be decided only after accession and shall not entail frontier controls.
What is the internal market safeguard clause?
If Bulgaria or Romania fails to implement internal market legislation with a cross border effect and this risks a serious breach in the functioning of the internal market, the European Commission may take safeguard measures. It may do so either upon its own initiative or on the request of a Member State.
Such safeguard measures may be taken until 3 years after accession, but they may be applicable beyond that date until the situation is remedied. The European Commission may modify, shorten or terminate the measures in response to progress. If necessary, the measures may be decided prior to accession and become applicable upon accession.
The internal market safeguard clause covers the four freedoms and other sectoral policies such as competition, energy, transport, telecommunication, agriculture and consumer and health protection (e.g. food safety).
The Commission will decide upon the measures on a case-by-case basis. The measures may limit the application of the internal market or cross-border EU policy in the given sector only as much as necessary to remedy the situation. Priority will be given to measures which least disturb the functioning of the internal market and, where appropriate, to the application of the existing safeguards in the EU laws and standards. The internal market safeguard measure applies exclusively to Bulgaria and Romania and not to the other Member States.
What is the justice and home affairs safeguard clause?
If either Bulgaria or Romania should fail to address the benchmarks adequately, the Commission may apply safeguard measures based on articles 37 and 38 of the Act of Accession, including the suspension of Member States' obligation to recognise and execute, under the conditions laid down in Community law, Bulgarian or Romanian judgments and judicial decisions, such as European arrest warrants.
What are transitional measures?
The Commission may, for three years after accession, prevent the export of Bulgarian or Romanian products which do not comply with EU veterinary, phytosanitary and food safety rules, to the rest of the EU.
To take a concrete example, the export of live pigs and pig meat products of Romania and Bulgaria to the rest of the EU will remain banned as long as the animal disease classical swine fever has not been eradicated. For instance, food safety in Europe can be guaranteed by the possibility to prevent the sale of unsafe products in the internal market. The Commission may add further food establishments to the list of those banned for three years after accession from exporting to the rest of the EU after accession. Those establishments which do not comply with EU standards can only sell their products on the domestic markets. By the end of this period, these establishments either have to be upgraded or close down.
In addition, there are also transitional measures which have been agreed during the accession negotiations, laid down in the Accession Treaty. They concern specific areas where either Bulgaria and Romania or the current Member States are allowed to not fully apply the EU laws and standards during a limited period after accession. These areas cover for example the free movement of workers, acquisition of land, road transport and some aspects of the environmental and agricultural EU laws and standards.
What are financial corrections on EU funds?
Bulgaria and Romania already benefit from pre-accession funds under PHARE, ISPA cohesion funds and SAPARD and will soon benefit from substantial EU funds, in particular structural and agricultural funds. The Commission will ensure that these funds are properly managed. Any improper use of EU funds will lead to financial corrections. These may consist of delayed disbursements, reduction on future payments or recovery of funds.
For structural funds, the EU laws and standards provide four types of control that may lead to financial corrections. Firstly, every Member State needs to submit operational programmes which have to be approved by the Commission before any payments can be made. Secondly, if Bulgaria or Romania do not have adequate management, certification and audit authorities, payments may be delayed until sufficient assurances for sound financial management are given.
Thirdly, the disbursement of funds for the programmes can be interrupted, suspended or cancelled if the Commission suspects or detects cases of irregularities or fraud including corrupt practices. Finally, financial corrections can take place in case irregularities are found during controls at the end of the life cycle of a programme.
For agricultural funds, Member States are obliged to have accredited and efficient paying agencies to ensure the sound management and control of agricultural expenditure. Secondly, Member States are also required to operate an integrated administrative and Control system (IACS), for the direct payments to farmers and parts of rural development expenditures, in order to avoid for example fraudulent practices and irregular payments. Thirdly, if Member States fail to operate such control systems properly, the Commission decides ex-post on financial corrections through the annual financial controls. Finally, if the Commission concludes that the funds are not spent according to the rules, the Commission may suspend or temporarily reduce the payment of advances, on a case-by-case basis.
ANNEX
Benchmarks to be addressed by Romania:
1. Ensure a more transparent, and efficient judicial process notably by enhancing the capacity and accountability of the Superior Council of Magistracy. Report and monitor the impact of the new civil and penal procedures codes.
2. Establish, as foreseen, an integrity agency with responsibilities for verifying assets, incompatibilities and potential conflicts of interest, and for issuing mandatory decisions on the basis of which dissuasive sanctions can be taken.
3. Building on progress already made, continue to conduct professional, non-partisan investigations into allegations of high level corruption.
4 Take further measures to prevent and fight against corruption, in particular within the local government.
Benchmarks to be addressed by Bulgaria:
1. Adopt constitutional amendments removing any ambiguity regarding the independence and accountability of the judicial system.
2. Ensure a more transparent and efficient judicial process by adopting and implementing a new judicial system act and the new civil procedure code. Report on the impact of these new laws and of the penal and administrative procedure code, notably on the pre-trial phase.
3. Continue the reform of the judiciary in order to enhance professionalism, accountability and efficiency. Evaluate the impact of this reform and publish the results annually.
4. Conduct and report on professional, non-partisan investigations into allegations of high-level corruption. Report internal inspections of public institutions and on the publication of assets of high-level officials.
5. Take further measures to prevent and fight corruption, in particular at the borders and within local government.
6. Implement a strategy to fight organised crime, focussing on serious crime, money laundering as well as on the systematic confiscation of assets of criminals. Report on new and ongoing investigations, indictments and convictions in these areas.
Source: European Commission
