All institutions, with the support of the Presidency, should consolidate their efforts to continue reforms in justice and home affairs. Both Bulgarian and European citizens require this, Vice President Margarita Popova said, commenting on the European Commission report published today on five years of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Bulgaria and Romania.

In the course of five years since the beginning of our EU membership, both European partners and Bulgarian nationals have invested much, the Vice President said. “These are the millions, to achieve progress in judicial reforms, and in the area of home affairs, so that everything that has been done, must be acknowledged, and that which remains to be done must be done,” she said.

Margarita Popova emphasised improving communication between Bulgaria and the European Commission and called for fair, open and professional dialogue between the Commission and Bulgarian institutions. “This to me is extremely important, to have progress and get things done,” Vice President Popova said.

The Vice President outlined the expectations associated with the selection procedure for the new members of the Supreme Judicial Council from the judiciary and the parliamentary quota, and the selection of the new Prosecutor-General. The selection and constitution of the SJC is key to the next phase, Vice President Popova said. “What the Bulgarian state does in the coming weeks and months regarding the choice of the SJC, the Prosecutor-General and the President of the Supreme Court will allow the European Commission and our European partners to decide whether there should be any additional action in 2013,” the Vice President said, adding that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is useful and should be used for implementation of effective reforms.