site.btaVenice Commission Holds Meetings in Sofia ahead of Opinion on Legislative Revisions Concerning Prosecutor General, Top Justices

Sofia, November 7 (BTA) - A delegation of the Venice Commission is visiting Sofia November 7 and 8 to discuss with the authorities and other stakeholders proposed revisions to the effective legislation concerning criminal prosecutions against the Prosecutor General and the country's two top judges.

Their visit comes following Justice Minister Danail Kirilov's request for an opinion on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Judicial System Act concerning the introduction of an effective mechanism of investigating the presidents of the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Supreme Administrative Court and the prosecutor general.

Meeting with the Venice Commission representatives on Thursday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov recalled that a recent European Commission report on Bulgaria's progress in reforming its judiciary and fighting organized crime and corruption, concluded that Bulgaria has fulfilled all recommnedations which means that this country has delivered on promises it made as it joined the EU in 2007.

Borissov was adamant that guaranteeing rule of law will remain a priority for Bulgaria.

He argued that the proposed changes to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Judicial System Act were based on the European Commission recommendations.

Borissov said that the opinion of the Venice Commission on this matter is extremely important for Bulgaria and the government will heed with it.

Meeting with the Venice Commission representatives, President Rumen Radev commended highly the recommendations given by the Venice Commission to Bulgaria. The meeting discussed the recommendations in the latest report by the Venice Commission.

During their visit to Bulgaria, the Venice Commission rapporteurs are also scheduled to meet with the Justice Minister, the parliamentary groups of GERB, BSP for Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, United Patriots, and Volya - Bulgarian Patriots, and with the presidents of the two Supreme Courts and the Prosecutor General.

RY, DS/DD, PP