site.btaItaly Offers to Help Bulgaria Fight Corruption, Organized Crime

Rome, July 13 (BTA special correspondent Lora Metanova) - Italy in ready to support Bulgaria in the fight against organized crime and corruption. This transpired from remarks by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev for the press as he emerged from a meeting with Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella Thursday.

Radev is on a one-day visit to Italy at Mattarella's invitation.

He said that Italy offers to Bulgaria to use at no cost a comprehensive model and specialized Italian-made software for counter-corruption combat. The software monitors all financial trabsactions in the country and provides a powerful tool against financial crimes, corruption and organized crime.

Several countries are now using the software and it has produced tangible results, said Radev.

He said that the Minister of Justice, the government and the judiciary will be asked to form an expert group to visit Italy and see how Italy's system for combatting organized crime works - and then decide whether the model can be transposed to Bulgaria.

Among the key issues that the two Presidents discussed Thursday was also the migrant crisis. Bulgaria and Italy believe that the Dublin Regulation is profoundly unjust to the countries on the front line and that a new system needs to be sought to deal with the problems of these countries.

According to Radev, there is a chance to amend the Dublin Regulation. "The countries from Central and Northern Europe are becoming increasingly aware that we should jointly protect our external borders and provide greater support to the front-line countries," he stated.

Bulgaria's Presidency of the EU also featured on the agenda of the discussions. "We can rely on Italy's full support regarding many key issues including the accession to the Schengen area," the Bulgarian President noted.

Taking a question, Radev commented that only the action or inaction of the Bulgarian authorities can be a threat to the Presidency. He voiced hope that all political parties would turn their back on scandals in the time that remains before Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the EU.

The presidents of Bulgaria and Italy also discussed the economic aspects of bilateral cooperation. They voiced satisfaction that two-way trade exceeds 4,200 million euro. Italy continues to invest in Bulgaria, said Radev adding that greater efforts should be put in reducing red tape and ensuring better conditions for businesses.