Taj mehanizam uvela je EK kad su se dvije zemlje pridružile EU, kako bi ocijenila njihov napredak ka ispunjavanju obaveza iz oblasti reforme pravosuđa i borbe protiv korupcije, te u slučaju Bugarske, u borbi protiv organiziranog kriminala.
The mechanism was introduced by the EC when the two countries joined the EU to assess their progress towards meeting their judicial reform and anti-corruption commitments, and in Bulgaria's case, in fighting organised crime.