Risk of a Safeguard Clause

The EU does not exclude the imposure of a safeguard clause on Bulgaria, after the justice system remains helpless before the organized crime and corruption. According to the European Commissioner of Justice, Freedom and Security, Jacques Barrot "the EC does not wish to have a safeguard clause imposed, but this option remains open". The Commissioner said that the Bulgarian justice system "is inefficient", "produces too few real results" and "important court cases were being postponed for years".

Jacques Barrot was in Sofia to participate in the conference "Bulgaria in the EU: Two years later and the path ahead." The forum was organised by the European Commission representation in Sofia together with the Open Society Institute, the Centre for Liberal Strategies and the Confederations of Industrialists and Employers in Bulgaria.

Commissioner Barrot explained that the EC will continue monitoring the country's actions against organized crime and corruption. He said "Cases against big criminals are needed". According to him Bulgaria will not be able to play its political role in the EU before it tackles crime.

The harsh words of Commissioner Barrot contradicted the statements of Bulgaria's prime-minister and General Prosecutor from that day. Boris Velchev stated that "95% of the cases in Bulgaria end with verdicts" and according to Sergei Stanishev "the Bulgarian Government has fulfilled 90% of its Action Plan".