site.btaCombating Terrorism Bill Urgently Drafted by Interior, Justice Ministries

Combating Terrorism Bill Urgently Drafted by Interior, Justice Ministries

Sofia, March 23 (BTA) - At its meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet considered Bulgaria's readiness to combat terrorism, Justice Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told journalists. The Ministry of Interior, the State Agency for National Security, the prosecuting magistracy and the Ministry of Justice have two weeks to draft a Combating Terrorism Act and lay it before the Council of Ministers, Zaharieva said.

Back last year, Bulgaria criminalized travel abroad for the purpose of terrorism, the Justice Minister said. "Our Penal Code is more restrictive than the EU Directive on combating terrorism. Almost all provisions of the Directive are present in the Bulgarian Penal Code, but the provisions on financing of terrorism need another look," Zaharieva pointed out. No amending bill has been presented to Parliament, but it concerns freezing money suspected to be intended for terrorism rather than criminalizing the act itself.

The Penal Code provisions on training for terrorism should be reviewed as well. Bulgaria proposed sanctions for terrorist self-training, but this position was not approved. "The directives, however, outline the common measures, and we can adopt such provisions as long as respect for human rights is safeguarded," the Justice Minister said.