SOFIA – The Bulgarian government must prioritize the structure and effectiveness of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) along with the political independence and operational efficiency of the Commission for Counteracting Corruption, according to European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath. His remarks followed a meeting with Bulgarian Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev in Sofia.
McGrath was in Bulgaria for a working visit ahead of the upcoming annual report by the European Commission on the state of the rule of law within the EU.
In a press briefing, McGrath indicated that he would update members of the Bulgarian parliament about the preparation of the report. We have significant recommendations from last year’s report, and we will assess the progress made in addressing them. He mentioned that some unresolved recommendations may be included in this year’s report.
The Commissioner characterized the reform aimed at curtailing the Chief Prosecutor’s powers and restructuring the SJC as a positive step.
Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring Bulgaria improves its performance in upholding the rule of law, despite the political instability faced last year.
McGrath also revealed discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev regarding the latest developments in justice, anti-corruption efforts, and the national recovery and resilience plan. He commended the Bulgarian government for prioritizing the plan’s implementation.
In last year’s rule of law report, the European Commission acknowledged the amendments made to the Bulgarian Constitution, highlighting the comprehensive constitutional reform aimed at enhancing judicial independence and addressing long-standing issues. However, the report also noted that Bulgaria still needs to make significant strides in securing final convictions in high-level corruption cases. (April 7, 2025)
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