NCJ Number
230872
Journal
Global Crime Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2010 Pages: 210-219
Date Published
May 2010
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article presents an overview in the tumultuous accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (EU) in 2007.
Abstract
For both objective and subjective reasons, the European Union devoted unprecedented attention to the problem of corruption in Bulgaria and Romania. The European Union (EU) faced a complex challenge in wielding its arsenal of carrots and sticks to encourage reform in the two countries. Conditionality was further complicated by rivalries between Sofia and Bucharest. Despite its limits, EU pressure presented a rare opportunity to depoliticize anti-corruption policy. After accession, Romania regressed from its previous achievements against corruption, and Bulgaria remained reluctant to prosecute senior officials or confront organised crime. Nevertheless, the European Commission continued its monitoring activities, and its ability to freeze funds maintained a modicum of pressure for reform. More effective anti-corruption efforts are possible if a domestic constituency for reform gains sufficient momentum to replace the EU's waning influence. (Published Abstract)