/ world today news/ In the event that there is no progress regarding the rule of law – the fight against corruption, judicial reform, media freedom and independence, it is possible that the European Parliament will vote a second resolution for Bulgaria. However, I believe there will be progress. The former GERB rulers are now completely discredited in Brussels, even in EPP circles, although they still do not publicly admit it. This was said by Elena Yoncheva, MEP from the Socialists and Democrats, in an interview for the “EuroDikoF” program on Eurocom TV.
In October 2020, on her initiative, the European Parliament adopted a resolution for Bulgaria, expressing deep regret for the situation with the rule of law in the country, as well as solidarity with the Bulgarian people in their legitimate demands and aspirations for justice, transparency, accountability and democracy.
After the mission of the monitoring group for democracy in Bulgaria on September 23 and 24, in which Elena Yoncheva also participated, the European MPs will prepare a report, which will be subject to debates in the LIBE committee and, if considered, in the plenary hall. The resolutions are important, because after them the European Commission can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening in the country. We want European funds for the media, for example, to be distributed transparently and according to professional criteria, because now the media receive money from the government, which turns them into a kind of PR agencies. Therefore, the rules must be imposed by Brussels, as we proposed in the resolution on media freedom in November 2020, said Elena Yoncheva. According to her, such changes will become difficult for Bulgaria, since every subsequent government will be tempted to act like GERB.
She recalled that since the beginning of the year, a mechanism has been in effect that binds the allocation of European funds to the member states with the state of the rule of law. Its implementation depends on the European Commission, but so far this has not happened. We are currently preparing to start a lawsuit against the commission for inaction, Elena Yoncheva said. In June, she, along with other members of the monitoring group, asked the European Parliament to invite the Commission to implement the binding mechanism. The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of 506 votes. However, the deadline has already expired. The period of the second, official warning to the European Commission has also expired.
The next step is to file a lawsuit. We are ambitious to do so. This is a step that was unthinkable until recently, but which the EU treaties give us the right to take if the European Commission continues to turn a blind eye to what is happening with the rule of law in Poland, Hungary, including Bulgaria, Elena Yoncheva said in the interview. She clarified that she does not want Bulgaria to be deprived of European funds, but to have a mechanism to force the rulers, whoever they are, to achieve effective results in the fight against corruption. Corruption in Bulgaria is systemic, it is robbery and is the basis of poverty in the country, commented Elena Yoncheva.
The topic of the fight against corruption in Bulgaria will be discussed at a special conference with the participation of European MPs, experts and journalists, which Elena Yoncheva is organizing in Sofia on October 12.
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP:
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