The European Commission follows the recent events in Bulgaria with concern and urges the political parties to reconcile in the name of stability and prosperity, justice commissioner Viviane Reding said in an interview for 24 Hours daily on July 19.
The Commission will continue to monitor Bulgaria's judicial reform progress and assist it in the fight against organised crime, Reding added. She said she is sympathetic with the ongoing anti-corruption protests in the country and acknowledges Bulgarians' concern about the rule of law in the country. The commissioner noted that the protests highlight the need for significant reforms.
Reding is visiting Bulgaria on July 22-23 to meet Bulgaria's President Rossen Plevneliev and justice minister Zinaida Zlatanova. The commissioner will also participate in a citizens dialogue to discuss Europe's future.
The EC's next Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report on Bulgaria's progress in tackling corruption and crime, and also improving its judicial system, is scheduled for December 2013.
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