site.btaJustice Minister Stoilov Meets with Venice Commission President Buquicchio, European Human Rights Court President Spano

October 25 (BTA) - Bulgarian caretaker Justice Minister
Yanaki Stoilov held meetings  with Gianni Buquicchio, President
of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and Robert
Spano, President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR),
in Strasbourg on Monday, October 25, which marks the European
Day of Justice.

Stoilov and Buquicchio discussed cooperation between the Venice
Commission and Bulgaria on the eve of Bulgaria's 30th
anniversary as a member of the organization, which will be
marked next year.

Stoilov said that BulgariaТs National Recovery and Resilience
Plan provides for continuing this country's intentions to
continue its cooperation with the Venice Commission and other EU
 judicial organizations. The statements made by these
organizations should correspond to the conditions in Bulgaria,
the Justice Minister argued. Commenting the Commission's earlier
 recommendations pertaining to the Prosecutor General in
Bulgaria, Stoilov explained this country's proposals to increase
 its Prosecutor General's responsibility and accountability by
providing the possibility to investigate the Prosecutor General,
 instead of creating new judicial structures.

During his meeting with Spano, Stoilov argued he would urge the
Supreme Judicial Council to strengthen cooperation with the ECHR
 for more secondments of Bulgarian judges there. Both parties
agreed that raising awareness of the European Convention on
Human Rights could lead to a reduction of sentences and a
significant reduction in the compensations that a country has to
 pay as part of these sentences. The Bulgarian judge in ECHR,
Yonko Grozev, also attended the meeting.

Stoilov will also meet with Secretary General of the Council of
Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric and Council of Europe Human
Rights and Rule of Law Head Christos Giakoumopoulos. RY/KK/MY

/КК/