site.btaJustice Minister Georgiev Participates in Informal Meeting of Ministers of Justice in Warsaw

Digitalizing judicial cooperation, facilitating access to justice, shortening time limits and reducing costs in cross-border court proceedings will contribute to an easier application of the European legal framework and to strengthening the rule of law, said Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev in his first participation in the Informal Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the EU Member States, held in Warsaw on January 31.

The ministers discussed the challenges to the rule of law and their impact on cooperation in the field of justice. "Bulgaria appreciates as timely and useful the holding of the debate on the principle of mutual recognition of the European Arrest Warrant and related instruments in different formats," Minister Georgiev said. He added that it is essential in the process of international legal cooperation not to undermine established effective practices of mutual trust and not to allow excessive and disproportionate overreaching of the scope of the powers of the defence.

"Access to justice is very important for citizens' sense of justice, so it is necessary to ensure that citizens can easily and quickly receive legal assistance and protection," Georgiev said.

On the topic of the consequences of the military aggression in Ukraine, Bulgaria supported the idea to extend the competence of the European Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate violations of EU restrictive measures. "Our country participates in the efforts of the international community, the aim of which is to ensure that the crimes in Ukraine are held accountable," Georgiev stressed, adding that Bulgaria supports all European and international initiatives, including the establishment of the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. "We are also positive about the proposal to provide appropriate legal and psychological support to victims of war crimes who report to a Member State that they have committed such crimes, as well as information to ensure their rights", the Minister added.