site.btaEuropean Commission Opens Three Infringement Procedures against Bulgaria

The European Commission on Wednesday announced three infringement procedures against Bulgaria.

The Commission decided to refer Bulgaria to the EU Court of Justice for failure to finalize the revision of its river basin management plans and/or flood risk management plans as required under the relevant directives. The Commission sent letters of formal notice in February 2023, followed by reasoned opinions in September 2023 to all countries that had failed to update and review these plans. Bulgaria has still not fully reported third river basin management plans.

The Commission decided to send an additional letter of formal notice to Bulgaria for failing to fully transpose into its national law the Directive on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings. The Commission considers that Bulgaria failed to transpose the Directive's requirements regarding definitions of key requirements: the right to information, the right to have the holder of parental responsibility informed about the child's rights, the right to an individual assessment and the right to a medical examination. Bulgaria now has two months to take the necessary measures to address the shortcomings identified by the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.

The Commission decided to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to Bulgaria for failing to comply with the obligations to notify certain information to the Commission set out in the EU Regulation to safeguard security of gas supply. To date, Bulgaria has not yet notified its updated Preventive Action Plan and Emergency Plan. The Commission considers that Bulgaria failed to fulfil its obligations under the Regulation and is therefore sending a letter of formal notice to Bulgaria, which now has two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion to Bulgaria.