The EC has published its report on the progress of Bulgaria under the Mechanism for Cooperation and Control in the judicial sphere and the fight against organized crime and corruption. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Zinaida Zlatanova said the report was objective and professional. She also quoted European Commission spokesman Mark Gray who said the latest report on the progress of Bulgaria was not an evaluation of the specific Bulgarian government and the Commission was to continue working with the current one to guarantee progress in the sphere.

Radio Bulgaria asked Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tzvetlin Yovchev about the responsibility of the current government for the slight progress marked.

“I don’t think it would be right trying to judge who had more contribution to the progress than others. Efforts must be joint in order to overcome the issues pointed out in the report. We must overcome political differences and work together. We are to work fast in order to develop an effective action plan and provide the necessary resources for the implementation of reforms. I think that implementing the plan would ensure a great progress in the sphere.”

Minister Yovchev takes part in the Council on Justice and Internal Affairs of the EU on January 23-24 in Athens. Here is more from him:

“I do not expect something dramatic in relation to Bulgaria to happen at the council meeting. We are to make our partners acquainted with the measures aimed at combating the refugee crisis. Bulgaria has already achieved much in this respect and this is positively assessed by our partners.”

English version: Alexander Markov