site.btaBulgaria Backs Setting Up Specialist Network of Organized Crime Control Magistrates

Bulgarian Justice Minister Atanas Slavov on Friday attended an informal meeting of EU justice ministers within the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Slavov's Ministry said in a press release.

Addressing the meeting, Slavov expressed Bulgaria's full support for the establishment of a specialist network of magistrates experienced in combating organized crime and drugs trafficking.

"We believe that setting up such a network and cracking international criminal organizations involved in drugs trafficking would add value, and we express support for the initiative. In our opinion, this network should be formed by prosecutors with sufficient experience and professional qualification in investigating serious offences and by the judges who act as Contact Points of the European Judicial Network [in criminal matters] who are experienced in this area," the Bulgarian Justice Minister said.

Slavov also proposed that an option be explored to make the network a self-contained information and logistics centre enabling interaction and data exchange at the national level as well as cross-border communication among Member States' competent judicial authorities.