Source: New York Times

Bulgaria and Romania were the subject of scathing reports by the European Commission last week, as the commission again criticized both countries for endemic corruption, weak rule of law and exporting criminal gang activity, especially Bulgaria.

But what can realistically be done to persuade the two governments to embrace long-term commitments to establishing the rule of law and fighting corruption?

As I explain in my latest Page Two column, Bulgaria and Romania were allowed to join the Union in 2007, though these problems were evident then — and reported by the E.U. — because of the belief that joining the Union would encourage the reformers while exclusion would hurt efforts to modernize the countries.

But now the European Commission has a responsibility to act. It can do several things. It might withhold the special structural and development funds that amount to several hundred million euros. It has already delayed both countries’ access to the Schengen accord that would allow their citizens to cross most European Union borders without passports.

The ultimate sanction would be to suspend the voting rights of Bulgaria and Romania. In practice it would mean that neither country would be able to vote along with the other E.U. member states on issues that affect them.

It would, however, be extremely difficult for the member states to reach agreement on suspending voting rights.

But if the E.U. is true to its word about upholding democracy, the rule of law and human rights, then the option to suspend voting rights should be taken seriously.

Doing so would also send a signal to countries applying to join the bloc, such as Serbia, that the E.U. is not going to allow its strategy of enlargement to be tainted by corruption.

Indeed, if anything, say analysts, the unfinished transitions in Bulgaria and Romania point to the difficulties the E.U. will encounter when dealing with other Balkan candidate countries.

This article originally appeared in the New York Times.