site.btaBulgaria Consults Venice Commission on Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov conferred here on Thursday with representatives of the Council of Europe European Commission for Democracy through Law, better known as the Venice Commission, the Government Information Service reported.

They discussed the proposed amendments to Bulgaria’s Constitution.

The draft changes in the structure and complement of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and the SJC Inspectorate are of particular importance to Bulgaria. They respond to recommendations from the European commission in its July 5, 2023 Rule of Law Report on Bulgaria and are set by The Netherlands as a precondition for the country’s admission to the Schengen area.

"The revisions to the Constitution are intended to reduce political influence in our judicial system," the Prime Minister stressed. He added that citizens mistrust Bulgarian administration of justice because justice is slow and the court cases about corruption and abuse of power do not result in convictions.

At the meeting, the Venice Commission representatives enquired about the plans to reform the status of the caretaker cabinet, the modalities for its appointment and its powers.

The European Commission for Democracy through Law provides legal advice to its 65 member states on bills or effective laws in the fields of democratic institutions and fundamental human rights, constitutional law and judicial systems, elections, referendums and political parties.