“I think that we’ve succeeded in assuring Mrs. Wallis in the sincere and uncompromising will of the Bulgarian parliament to set up all necessary legislation to aid good justice practices in line with such European ones,” said deputy speaker of the Bulgarian parliament Atanas Semov. In his words, if the Irish voters cast their votes of support for the Lisbon Treaty in the referendum to be held on October 2 in Ireland, then Bulgaria will organize a conference on the new role of national parliaments as stipulated in the treaty.

In its July report on Bulgaria’s progress under “Justice and Internal Affairs” as well as the mechanism for cooperation and verification, EC made 21 concrete recommendations in those two areas to the Bulgarian authorities.

At the conference in Sofia, it became clear that four commissions in EP worked on legal stands under the Stockholm program. The EP is expected to come up with a common position of the program within weeks. According to Diana Wallis, EU citizens expect higher activity on legislative matters related to their business doings and civil rights. The basic principles of the Stockholm program define four of the most fundamental freedoms of EU citizens and most importantly the freedom of movement, she thinks. A web portal on EU justice is forthcoming.

Diana Wallis said that in November 2009 there would be celebrations on the 20th anniversary of changes in Europe. On that occasion, EP would invite young people who witness the changes in Eastern Europe. 

Written by: Tatyana Obretenova
English version: Delian Zahariev
Phots: BTA