site.btaLegislative Reforms, Improving Judicial System Are Up to Bulgarians - Radev MEP

In an interview for BTA, MEP Emil Radev (GERB/EPP) said that implementing legislative reforms is a process that is entirely up to the Bulgarian people. He added: "We have to make our judicial system faster and fairer ourselves."

Radev said that magistrates need tools to administer justice within normal deadlines, because swift justice is essential. The fact that a criminal case can drag on for years leads to a sense of impunity among the people. The MEP believes that the Bulgarian legislation must be updated in order to offer fast and efficient justice.

Asked about the instruments that the EU uses to help Member States strengthen the rule of law and judicial independence, Radev pointed to the horizontal rule of law, which the EU adopted some years ago. He specified: "Those are the reports on the rule of law, media freedom, human rights and others, which apply to all 27 Member States."

Radev said that the Union has other mechanisms to improve the situation in Bulgaria. While reforms had to be introduced in each Member State under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Bulgaria failed to cope with the tasks it had set for itself, he added.

Radev spoke about the lack of legislation dedicated to personal bankruptcy, which was planned to be introduced per the Recovery and Resilience Plan. He pointed out that Bulgaria is the only EU Member State with no such legislation. The MEP said that even though some debtors have been pursuing enforcement cases for more than 10 years, they are still unable to start fresh and find a job, which leads to more problems. He expressed hope that such a law will be adopted soon.

The MEP suggested that there is a problem with drug tests, as today 10% of them turn out to be wrong or invalid. Consequently, too many drivers are forced to stay off the road with their driving licences revoked, while they are waiting for the results of their blood tests for months.