Not everyone is equal before the law

Two emblematic surveys on the situation in Bulgaria were published last week. According to figures released by Eurobarometer, 97% of Bulgarians consider corruption, organized crime, and shortcomings in the judicial system among the main problems in the country. Only 17% feel safe for their lives, personal safety and property, however, an Alpha Research shows that only 11% of the overall population believe that if they were victims of a crime the police would identify the perpetrators. As few as 8% are convinced that if the offenders should be arrested the court would make every effort to ensure that the punishment fits the crime.   The warning of the Commission. These figures are not a surprise. For the past eight years the European Commission has constantly warned that the Bulgarian judiciary needs to undertake concrete reforms, going beyond good intentions and inefficient bodies. Brussels also pointed out that corruption can be defeated with courage, good will and the joint efforts of all those involved: politicians, magistrates and citizens alike. In 2007, the year in which Bulgaria became an EU member country, was adopted the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), through which the EU helps Bulgaria and Romania to boost the performance of the judiciary and progress in the fight on corruption and organized crime. Past January 28 the European Commission published the 14th Report on progress under the CVM. Accordingly, “Progress has been slow in Bulgaria in terms of addressing judicial reform and making concrete advances on corruption and organised crime. Witnesses in key trials are not protected (some were killed and others threatened) while the Supreme Judicial Council failed to dispel the doubts of having undergone pressure in appointing senior judges.” Far from European standards. “Our Country continues lagging behind European standards in the areas of justice, rule of the law, defence of human rights and the creation of a government without corruption”, said Justice Minister Christo Ivanov. The young politician, member of a governmental organization in charge of the reform of the judicial system, seems one of the few in Sofia who are truly interested in showing that everyone is equal before the law. In fact, his judicial reform strategy, recently adopted in Parliament with unanimous vote, is the only positive aspect mentioned in the report. The reactions. “It’s time to act”, declared Frans Timmermans, First Vice-president of the EU Commission, who believes that “the reforms mentioned in the report will help recover the trust of citizens and of those who would like to invest, because the Bulgarians want to see the changes.” His opinion is shared by the Bulgarian representative in the Juncker Commission, Kristalina Georgieva, vice president in charge of the budget and human resources: “Both Brussels and the whole Bulgarian society expect to see concrete results”, “an efficient and independent judicial system and a successful fight against corruption.”Obstacle for Schengen. “Precisely the lack of progress in the Mechanism is the reason why Bulgaria is unable to become a part of the Schengen system”, said Adelina Marini, on the portal euinside.com. In her opinion, the reports of the European Commission show that the rule of law is absent in Sofia because the legislative decrees change too often at the service of one or another political party or financial group.” “We have waited for years, as if the EU could make reforms in Bulgaria, while the truth is that we can only expect support from Brussels, with ideas and with money,” wrote the Bulgarian weekly Kapital, adding: “No relationship and no mechanism can replace reform efforts in Bulgaria. No one else can do our job.” Now it’s Sofia’s turn. According to the Eurobarometer survey, 78% of Bulgarians believe that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism should continue. Moreover, 33% declared confidence in the government while only 11% in the Parliament. The credibility of national institutions continues to decline while economic pessimism increases. “The government’s broad coalition led by Prime Minister Borissov – said Boryana Dimitrova, Alpha Research – besides the economic and financial insecurity of Bulgarians must also face the reforms it pledged to undertake, the absence of which will only but boost this insecurity.” A difficult but indispensable task is longed for by Bulgarian citizens much more than by the European Commission.