Bulgaria – key factor for EU in fighting corruption and organized crime in the region

published on 3/19/10 12:06 PM

EPP President Wilfred Martens (right to left), bulgarian Premier Boyko Borissov, Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov and EPP Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz during the forum

Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria – key factor for EU in fighting corruption and organized crime in the region

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The Bulgarian center-right government of GERB began an intense fight against organized crime and corruption after the party won the last elections. The goal was the image of Bulgaria to be restored in Europe and worldwide, as well as the trust of the people into the institutions. The results have been positively evaluated in two reports of the State Department of the USA and are also expected to be approved by the report of the EC on the Bulgarian progress within the Mechanism for cooperation and control that is expected to be voiced by the end of the week. “The government has the political will and acts the way Europe and the USA expect us to” – Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov said at a press conference, organized by the European People’s Party /EPP/ in Sofia, called “The Bulgarian example in fighting corruption and organized crime”. Mr Borissov added that the success from this battle at all levels would guarantee a successful absorption of the EU funds, which would be a very important instrument for getting out of the crisis. The PM also said:

“Corruption has many faces. It appears in many spheres – from the pay desk in an institution to the signing of agreements and contracts that harm the treasury with hundreds of millions of Euro – he said and gave the National Electricity Company as an example. – Who could say that our electrical company had practically been bankrupted with debts of over EUR 500 mln., siphoned via known and unknown projects? – Mr Borissov asked rhetorically. He reminded that Brussels unblocked the funds, provided for Bulgaria after the measures, taken by the government according to the recommendations of the EC.

President of the EPP Wilfried Martens declared his support for the government’s unpopular measures and gave a positive assessment to the brave actions against corruption and organized crime.

This was what Mr Martens said, underlining that the EPP would encourage Bulgaria in this battle till the final victory, since it was important to Europe. “The current Bulgarian government is the only option for fighting organized crime and corruption. This fight hasn’t finished yet, but Bulgaria is definitely moving into the right direction” – Mr Martens said clearly.

However, Bulgarian vice-premier and interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov thinks that besides political and executive will, Bulgaria will also need the will of the judiciary system. For Radio Bulgaria he explained that there was an idea discussed for the re-structuring of the Supreme Judiciary Council /SJC/.

“I consider the political quota in the SJC to be unnecessary. We, politicians have to be further away from a really independent judiciary system. So therefore we have to give the right the judges in the SJC to be selected among true professionals that are free from the political element and the duty to “return the favor” to certain politicians that have supported their appointment. There should be a real dialogue with the Council of judges, we have to look for people that are able to conduct the reform. The Bulgarian judiciary system today, 20 years after the transition to democracy is still not reformed, giving exactly that image to the country in the sphere. Actually there is no justice and people see that. This status quo needs to be changed.”

English translation: Zhivko Stanchev

По публикацията работи: Tatyana Obretenova

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Bulgaria – key factor for EU in fighting corruption and organized crime in the region

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