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The European Commission urges Bulgaria to turn to the Venice Commission again to resolve the issue of the liability of the Prosecutor General. This was announced by the EU Commissioner, Vera Yourova, during her hearing before the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, also known as the LIBE Committee.
In December last year, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe issued its third report on Bulgaria, in which it once again explained to the Bulgarian authorities that they had a serious problem with the Attorney General. The commission called for far-reaching constitutional reforms in the prosecutor’s office and the Supreme Judicial Council to remove the practical inviolability of the chief prosecutor.
At the same time, the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria issued an interpretative judgment declaring that any ordinary prosecutor, according to his competence, could investigate the chief prosecutor. However, the Constitutional Court does not mention the guarantees of independence of this ordinary prosecutor. If there is an investigation against Ivan Geshev, the regular prosecutor will remain subordinate to the superiors who are subordinate to Geshev. At the same time, the career of this ordinary prosecutor is in the hands of the Judicial Council, where the influence of the Attorney General is absolutely inescapable.
Yourova noted during the LIBE discussion that she was watching the events in Bulgaria with concern. She added that changes to the legislation must be based on broad public consent. “Amendments to the constitution should have broad support,” said Yourova, who is also vice president of the European Commission.
The report on the rule of law in Bulgaria will be presented on September 23. It will express its concern for freedom of expression and the state of the media.
“I am monitoring the situation in Bulgaria and I am concerned. If democracy does not work from the top down and from the bottom up, the EC cannot do much for the member states,” Yourova said.
He commented that functioning from the top down means responsibility and control of the institutions, and from the bottom up: the participation of citizens through elections and peaceful protests.
“Citizens do not have this opportunity in Bulgaria,” the commissioner said, apparently referring to police violence during the protests.
“We must also be aware of what measures the commission can and cannot take. The EC cannot assume the role of a Constitutional Court, a prosecutor, an arbitrator in domestic politics. The (other) Member States must intervene here.” Yourova said.
At the same time, he noted that the situation is similar in other EU countries. Yourova said that the EC monitors the violation of human rights and the proportionality of actions in the control of protests in Bulgaria by the security services. According to her, the rule of law will be an indicator of the allocation of EU funds for economic recovery from the pandemic.
“I am tired of noticing how many laws have been passed. Legislation must be enforced, and Bulgarians and Romanians must have confidence in justice, otherwise ties with society will be severed,” Yourova said.
Claire Dali: The EC is complicit in corruption
“I am shocked by the words of the EU Commissioner Vera Yourova on the situation in Bulgaria. I think they present a completely opposite image to the reality in this country,” said Irish MEP Claire Dali (European United Left / Nordic Green Left) .
“If the EC really believes that the progress in Bulgaria in the last 13 years is good, then my conclusion is that you are either deeply incompetent or fully serving Boyko Borissov’s interests due to your connections with certain groups in this parliament and with interests. in the EU, “he added.
According to Dalí, the EU has “irrefutable evidence of Borissov’s ties and his interaction with Attorney General Ivan Geshev.” It tells you who to prosecute, how to cover up the accusations against you of money laundering in Spain, harassment of judges, etc. Now people are in the streets where the police beat them and spray them with hot water, respected Bulgarians in society. they are closed, hunger strikes have started, and we are talking about monitoring and progress, ”said the MEP during the discussion.
I’m sure the people I mention now look at us and make fun of us. Geshev, whom we invited, laughs at us, laughs at the procedures and mechanisms of the European Union, so far removed from reality. In April 2019, the European Commission said that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism should not be abolished. Now you have doubts about how to deal with that, “Dnevnik told the Irish.
“People on the streets of Sofia want to know if you will strictly supervise this monitoring, but also if you will stop the money of these bandits. Because European funds empower these people and allow them to engage in large-scale corruption, which actually punishes the Bulgarians. I will tell you that it is an absolute pity that the commission doubts this issue and is complicit in corruption, “said Dalí.
In response, Vera Yourova “categorically rejected” his accusations that she was “Borissov’s accomplice.” “Don’t insult me like this. I do my job completely objectively and honestly,” Yourova said.
Emil Radev: We are very determined
During the debate, Bulgarian MEP Emil Radev (GERB / EPP) explained that with or without European supervision, reforms in Bulgaria continue. Boyko Borissov often mentions Emil Radev as the party’s unrealized candidate for chief prosecutor.
The determination of the government and institutions responsible for Bulgaria for the irreversibility of judicial reform, the fight against corruption, the guarantee of the rule of law and the protection of fundamental values and rights continues. An example of this is the proposal to convene a Grand National Assembly and approve a new constitution, “he said.
Elena Yoncheva (BSP, Socialists and Democrats) talks about corruption in Bulgaria, lack of press freedom, systemic violations of basic human rights, constant propaganda, fake news, beaten journalists, blackmailed businessmen.
“Despite the pandemic, tens of thousands of Bulgarian citizens are protesting the end of the authoritarian regime,” Yoncheva said.
Ilhan Kyuchyuk (MRF / Renew Europe) announced in the European Parliament that the party is against changes to the Bulgarian constitution. According to him, such changes will not improve the social contract. “The time has not come, we need a very calm environment, in consultation with the Venice Commission and our partners for a great and radical transformation of public order in the country,” Kyuchuk said.
Roberta Mezzola (EPP) welcomes the efforts of Bulgaria to respond to the recommendations of the Venice Commission. “We are all seeing the protests in the country, we cannot ignore them. It is good to solve the problems before the protests happen,” Mezzola said.
Ramona Strugaru (Renew Europe) found similarities between the situation in Bulgaria and Belarus. She said that in both countries, underage protesters were beaten and detained without access to food, water or a doctor.
Radan Kanev translates from “Brussels”
Radan Kanev MEP (Democratic Bulgaria, PPE) published a “Brussels translation” of the messages on Thursday after the LIBE meeting. According to him, the monitoring of the EC is maintained because there is a setback on key issues such as high-level corruption and the reform of the Attorney General’s Office.
Kanev commented that the general mechanism for the rule of law in the EU will address the issue of press freedom in Bulgaria, together with corruption and justice.
“The mood in the EP is very critical. Many MEPs from different groups are already well aware of the problems. The EC and Nordic MPs openly threaten to suspend EU funds if there are no reforms. The European institutions are calling for a broad consensus of reform, not amateur political actions, such as the “constitution” of Danail Kirilov, commented the MEP.
According to him, the attention of the European media to the protests is increasing the interest of public opinion. “Politicians are forced to follow him. The protest is doing its job successfully. Gottes Mühlen mahlen langsam, aber sicher (God’s mill grinds slowly but surely),” wrote Kanev.
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