This paper argues against the view that Bulgaria's EU accession was premature and that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) is not delivering. The EU's continued leverage and the efficacy of the CVM are explained in a framework that goes beyond the dual-conditionality paradigm of...

The candidate countries adopted a low profile in the Convention. They were quietly supportive of most proposals on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) front but concerned about the implications of some proposals for the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). These concerns...