site.btaReformist Bloc Leader Kunev Expects the Most Negative EC Report on Bulgaria under Cooperation, Verification Mechanism

Reformist Bloc Leader Kunev Expects the Most Negative EC Report on Bulgaria  under Cooperation, Verification Mechanism


Sliven, Southeastern Bulgaria, January 11 (BTA) - The
forthcoming European Commission (EC) report on Bulgaria under
the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) is expected to
be the most negative one, both regarding the CVM's
implementation and the country's entry in Schengen area by air
and water, said Radan Kunev, one of the leaders of the Reformist
Bloc, at a BTA-hosted news conference in Sliven Sunday.

Kunev said that regarding its entry in Schengen, Bulgaria might
be separated from Romania, which has been implementing a bold
anti-corruption policy for years. "The corruption in Romania has
dropped by 50 per cent, which is a natural consequence of the
effectively imposed sentences," he said. According to him, if
the two countries are not formally separated, this should not be
interpreted as a big victory, because Bulgarians are factually
separated for their own results.

Kunev underscored that the spring session of the 43rd National
Assembly will be the most important one from a legislative point
of view because of the serious reforms. A complete reformist
package of measures will be applied in spheres such as justice
and security, emergency healthcare, the policy on medicinal
products, education and other spheres. The effectiveness of the
reformist package requires the introduction of an administrative
reform, e-governance, as well as a completely new philosophy of
budget-making for the national policies, Kunev told the news
conference.

"As long as the Movement for Rights and Freedoms controls key
positions in the national administration, it will torpedo the
reforms in all spheres," Kunev said. In his words, all these
positions should be distributed through competitions so that the
best people can be selected.

Commenting on the recent terror attack in Paris, Kunev said that
terrorism's goal is to destroy the societies founded on the
rule of law and freedom. A traditional peaceful form of Islam
has existed in Bulgaria for centuries, and everything else is a
hostile and alien unit, he said.