EC to Slam Bulgaria on Elections, Judiciary - Report

Elections are to be featured for the first time in the European Commission progress report on justice and home affairs in Bulgaria, according to a publication by Bulgarian site Mediapool.

The report, expected to be published Wednesday, criticizes Bulgarian authorities for the widespread perception of vote buying and other irregularities during October 2011 presidential and municipal elections, according to a draft of the report in Mediapool's possession.

The report allegedly asks for "deterring sanctions for vote buying and other election fraud" to be implemented.

In additon, the EC paper, produced on the so-called Co-Operation and Verification Mechanism for corruption and organized crime, lists the usual grievances related to Bulgaria's judiciary.

"Bulgaria still lacks an in-depth analysis of its legal system and investigative practices related to organized crime and corruption," the text is reported to say.

The EC progress report points out in specific to a number of appointments by Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council which allegedly cast doubts on the independence of the judiciary.

Another topic is little progress in the field of legislation and legal procedures relating to the investigation of assets of unproved origin.

The paper mentiones that "a number of steps" have been made for the improving of the situation, but fails to note on the presence of a "political will" to carry out reforms, writes Mediapool.

Outside the judicial system, the report also refers to the already discontinued practice of donations to the Ministry of Interior, which it describes as dubious.

The not so positive note of the report is expected to do little to change the stance of the Netherlands, which has been blocking Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen Agreement due to worries over corruption and organized crime.

Source: Novinite.com