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© Philippe Buissin, © European Union 2020 – Source: EP
A vice president of the European Parliament accused the Bulgarian government of publishing fake news. This is Katarina Barley, who is also a member of the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) and the Working Group on the Rule of Law, which last week heard from representatives of the Bulgarian government and civil society about the situation in the country. (Read more about this audience here, here, and here.)
In a debate at LIBE last night, he said that after Friday’s meeting, the Bulgarian government had released “absolutely false information about its content, in fact fake news.” (can you watch the video here, his speech began at 5:07 pm)
This debate was not dedicated specifically to Bulgaria, but to work on the new rule of law mechanism, which should cover all EU countries and replace the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (MCV), which applies only to justice in Bulgaria and Romania. . Barley is also the so-called shadow rapporteur for him.
“This is one of the vital texts that we must prepare,” he said. I say this especially after the last session of the monitoring group on the rule of law, which was for Bulgaria. He was concerned not only about the content, but also about the reaction of the government, which publishes absolutely false information about what was discussed, actually fake news. we need objective tools that we have agreed on. “
Barley did not specify what he was referring to. Dnevnik sent questions to her office and is waiting for an answer. But last week, the prosecutor’s office first issued a statement claiming the meeting was organized at the request of Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, and then MEP Emil Radev (who was not present at the event) commented to 24 Chasa that MEPs were condemning the use of gallows, coffins and body bags during protests in Bulgaria. Dnevnik sent questions to Radev’s office on Monday, but he has not yet responded.
The new mechanism that will replace European reports
In an interview with Dnevnik in May, Barley explained that it would include specific criteria by which the general situation in member states could be compared. She also defended the idea of having economic sanctions for non-compliance, saying: “I hope there is a mechanism for the financial consequences related to the next MFF. I really hope this makes things easier, because money is clearly the only aspect.
“Experience has shown that governments that have taken this path are not impressed by verbal criticism. They can apply the judgments of the European Court, but not draw conclusions for the next case. I think (including the case of Bulgaria) the financial measures it could lead to a change in your thinking. “
EP Vice-President
“We have to be sharp there, it is absolutely crucial. If we see problems in Bulgaria now, we see problems in Slovenia, there are continuous problems in Romania, before we have seen problems in Italy, Malta. We really have to be very careful not to change in the that this behavior is considered normal. “
Katharina Barley is a former member of the Bundestag (2013-2019) and a former general secretary of the German Social Democratic Party. Barley was Federal Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection, as well as Minister for the Family, the Elderly, Women and Youth in Angela Merkel’s fourth government. Before that, she was Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs for half a year.
