European Commission Criticizes Bulgaria for Failure to Reform

The European Commission (EC) took the Bulgarian government to task in a report issued this week detailing the country’s failure to reform its judicial system in accordance with recommendations proscribed in a July EC report. This was the EC’s most negative report on Bulgaria since the country joined the European Union in 2007. The report began with the good news commending Bulgaria for putting into operation a new specialized Court and Prosecutor’s Office for organized crime, and a Commission for the Identification and Forfeiture of Criminal Assets. It also stated that Bulgaria has taken steps to improve judicial practices, the organization of the prosecutor’s office, and cooperation between courts, police and administrative authorities. However, the report said there has been no progress in other significant areas. The EC report noted that the new draft law on asset forfeiture needs to be more comprehensive, and have strong institutional backing. Otherwise, the legislation will not be “effective in dissuading organized crime and high-level corruption.” The Bulgarian Parliament is currently debating the law which outlines the procedure for asset forfeiture prior to a conviction especially assets connected to organized crime.