As of September 15, the European Commission formally closes the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) for Bulgaria and Romania. The mechanism was set up for the two countries in 2006, before their accession to the EU, as they still had progress to make in the fields of judicial reform, corruption and (for Bulgaria) organised crime. 

The progress of Bulgaria and Romania in the rule of law will be assessed only under the annual Rule of Law Cycle as for all Member States.

Bulgaria's last progress report under the mechanism was in October 2019, when EC concluded that the country had satisfactorily met its obligations set out under the CVM at the time of accession to the Union. 

The monitoring mechanism remained in power until 5 July 2023, when the Commission informed both the Council and the European Parliament of its intention to formally close the CVM.