SOFIA, Bulgaria—In its recent report on Bulgaria, the EU Commission acknowledged some positive development in Bulgaria’s effort to improve coordination and cooperation between three key government institutions. These are the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Security Agency (NSA) in order to tackle corruption and fraud.
The report also confirmed the expected conclusion that there are not enough judicial trials against members and leaders of organized criminal groups in Bulgaria. The number of unadjudicated legal cases signifies a decrease in timely prosecutions against organized crime.
It’s apparent that Brussels awaits more news about positive results in the battle against criminal activities. During recent months, prominent legal cases against organized crime have not concluded in judicial decisions. The EU Commission mentions in its report that the number of adjudicated cases is insignificant.
“The establishment of joint teams to cope with corruption and organized crime is a step ahead,” says Johan Lautenberger, spokesperson for the European Commission.
The EU Commission recognizes Bulgaria’s improvement in judicial reform. Inspectors of the Supreme Judicial Council have full authority over their activities; the positive results in their criminal investigations are significant.
Important steps have yet to be taken in terms of a clear demarcation between different institutions, such as allowing control over the work of the NSA by the Bulgarian National Assembly.
“It means to vote on the final laws needed to strengthen the judicial system, by making indictments against high ranking government officials, leaders of criminal groups for corruption, and organized crime. The judicial system must demonstrate that it can apply laws effectively and independently from outside influence,” says Johan Lautenberger.
The report gives clear recommendations on political parties’ sponsorships of candidates in anticipation of the forthcoming national and EU elections in Bulgaria this year.
Together with a lack of conviction and ineffective effort to cope with corruption and organized crime in Bulgaria, the report states that the most positive change in the judicial system is the establishment of an inspection agency under the Supreme Judicial Council, as also noted by Professor Lazar Gruiev, chief of the Supreme Court of Appeals.
According to Professor Gruev, the positive tendencies in the report should not cause anyone to relax, on the contrary, more should be done to prove that there is complete intolerance of corruption and organized crime in Bulgaria.
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