site.btaJustice Minister Discusses Progress on Rule of Law Recommendations with EC Representatives

Justice Minister Mariya Pavlova held a meeting with representatives of the European Commission (EC) to discuss the progress of the working groups on draft laws related to the recommendations of the annual report on the rule of law, the Justice Ministry said on Thursday.

She presented the results achieved so far by the working group on the draft for amendment and supplementation of the Judiciary Act, as the emphasis of the EC was placed on the texts in the part on the Inspectorate to the Supreme Judicial Council.

Meeting participants also discussed bills related to the Recovery and Resilience Plan. In particular, Deputy Justice Minister Mihaela Mechkunova pointed out that the amendments to the draft law on the protection of whistleblowers or public disclosure of information on violations have been uploaded for public consultation.

Focus was also put on the entirely new Lobbying Act, which is also part of the implementation of international commitments, such as the accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Minister Pavlova said that a concept has been approved and work on it will start at the end of the month.

The meeting was held in a hybrid format with the online participation of Julien Mousnier, Director of the Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights and Democracy Directorate of the EC.