EC Report Prompts Bulgarian Reforms

The new policy was announced by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Thursday in reaction to a report critical of Bulgaria released earlier in the week by the European Commission under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, CVM.

In the report, private donations to the police were cited as one of many shortcomings in Bulgariaʼs judicial system and home affairs.

Media reports earlier this year indicated that the Interior Ministry had collected over BGN 6.5 M in just three months, with some donors being people under investigation.

Borisov explained that the practice has been common for more than 22 years. But since Brussels is against it, it must be eliminated, he said, adding that he has asked Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov to write a report to the EU detailing the exact amount of donations that must be replaced by state funding.

Borisov reiterated his stance that the EC report is objective, well-meaning and helpful, since it includes concrete recommendations that can be used as an action plan.

“Bulgaria is assessed by the EC as ʻa hardworking student who has the will and the desire, but not yet enough knowledge and skills,ʼ” the prime minister said on Wednesday.

Borisov also noted that parliament needs to pass a recently rejected bill regarding the forfeiture of assets acquired through illegal activities, since the EC insists on it.

The bill failed to pass in plenary hall because 40 MPs from Borisovʼs ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, were not in attendance.

"I told them yesterday: If we want to get rid of CVM, we must fulfill our commitments,” Borisov said. “I am still worried that this forfeiture can be used as a tool for political retribution, so I told the justice minister to iron out all the details.”