site.btaPrime Minister Borissov Meets with EC First Vice President Timmermans to Discuss Judicial Reform

Prime Minister Borissov Meets with EC First Vice President Timmermans to Discuss Judicial Reform

Sofia/Varna/Rousse, June 4 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov
had a working meeting with the European Commission's First Vice
President Frans Timmermans in the seaport of Varna Thursday to
discuss the Bulgarian judicial reform and the measures taken by
public institutions to make it irreversible, the Cabinet's Press
Service reported. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime
Minister and Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova and Justice
Minister Hristo Ivanov.

Prime Minister Borissov recalled that a government-proposed
Judicial Reform Strategy was approved by a large majority in the
National Assembly (Parliament). A bill to amend the
Constitution, which was submitted to the National Assembly a few
days ago, also aims to ensure that the judicial system will
keep reforming, he said.

A desire to improve the judicial system is visible in the system
itself, which is working together with the government to create
necessary legislation, Borissov said. He singled out the recent
adoption of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, moved by
Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov, which are aimed to prevent
prosecuted persons from evading justice.

Borissov told Timmermans that a task force was put together by
the Prosecution, the State Agency for National Security and the
Interior Ministry two months ago to investigate offences by
senior public officials. Bills have been written to set up a
single anti-corruption authority and to amend the Judicial
System Act, which are being discussed publicly.

Timmermans acknowledged that there is a political will in
Bulgaria to reform the judiciary and the process is gaining
momentum. "You are going in the right direction, making the
right steps towards stability, using the right team of people -
and you are the right government," Timmermans said, speaking
through an interpreter. He noted that preserving judicial
independence while fighting judicial corruption is a tricky
business.

Borissov confirmed that his government has the political will to
combat corruption, and the effort has yielded visible results.
This year's measures to curb the informal economy and the
confidence which the European partners have placed in Bulgaria
have resulted in an additional 2.125 billion leva flowing into
the national budget, the Prime Minister said.

He drew attention to his government's achievements in absorbing
EU aid and pointed to facilities in Varna which have been
restored with EU funding.

While visiting the northeast of Bulgaria, Timmermans also
attended a discussion in Rousse with Bulgarian and Romanian
citizens on citizenship and the future of Europe, the rule of
law and the concerns of citizens. The meeting was also attended
by President Rosen Plevneliev and Romanian Justice Minister
Robert Cazanciuc.

Commenting entry in the Schengen area, Timmermans said that
Bulgaria and Romania have made considerable progress in respect
to air and maritime border security but more work remains to be
done at the land borders.

President Plevneliev said that the two countries have invested
huge reosurces to prove their loyalty and solidarity in
protecting the external EU border.

Justice Minister Cazanciuc said that there are surely things
which remain to be done and the member states should be
convinced that the presence of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen
is needed.

During the debate Timmermans said that Bulgaria is lagging
behind Romania and this is clearly shown in the Commission
reports. He believes that Bulgaria has wasted valuable time. He
said that during his meeting with Prime Minister Borissov
earlier in the day he felt the resolve of the Bulgarian
government to make up for the wasted time. He said that now he
wants results, not just promises, and the results will be
assessed in the next Commission report.