site.btaGovernment Adopts 2016 Implementing Plan of Strategy for Combating Radicalization, Terrorism

Government Adopts 2016 Implementing Plan of Strategy for Combating Radicalization, Terrorism

Sofia, March 23 (BTA) - At its meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet considered Bulgaria's readiness to combat terrorism.

The Council of Ministers adopted a 2015 Implementing Plan of the Strategy for Combating Radicalization and Terrorism (2015-2020), the Government Information Service said.

The Plan includes drafting a Combating Terrorism Bill, elaborating a concept for communication with media and civil society in conditions of governance in crises resulting from terrorist activity, drawing up counteterrorism plans by the competent ministries and other central-government departments, regional and municipal administrations and strategic installations, as well as a mechanism to assist Bulgarian citizens who become a target or victim of a terrorist act in the territory of third countries.

"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," Justice Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told journalists after the Cabinet meeting.

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.