A WORKING GROUP SHALL OVERSEE THE AGENCIES IN CHARGE OF EU FUNDS

The powers of Meglena Plugchieva need to be strengthened, Bulgarian Prime Minister said in Bansko.

A working group has been established which shall supervise all agencies working with EU funds. Each month, the Ministers whose departments work under EC programmes, shall submit work reports to the Council of Ministers.

"The powers of Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plugchieva need to be reinforced but this does not include establishment of a new agency... The important thing is to exercise control over the programmes and to carry on the communication with the EC", Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev commented during a press conference in Bansko. Definitely, this does not refer to establishment of a new agency which would assume the control over EU funds because Bulgaria has already announced the model according to which it will absorb EU funds even before the country's accession to the EU - namely, decentralized system.

"Bulgaria is still learning how to spend EU funds. This is a very hard technological process where everyone in the administration and among beneficiaries has something to learn", Stanishev explained.

An action plan involving concrete measures was approved by the Ministry of Interior (MI) and the Ministry of Justice following the EC report criticism in the field of justice and internal affairs. "The ruling coalition will provide the legal basis and mechanisms needed to bring legal actions to an end within reasonable terms but we expect even greater commitment and initiativeness of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) with regards to monitoring these processes", the Prime Minister stated. He also expressed his hope that the Inspectorate at SJC would maintain the good practices introduced over the last months and they would give even better results.

At the end of September, the amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes will be brought forth for consideration. There are also upcoming changes in the Special Intelligence Means Act which are expected to provide for greater control over the use, storage and disposal of such resources. Changes in the Rules for the Implementation of the Law for the Ministry of Interior are also planned, as well as structuring of the internal security unit with the MI.

A tax policy programme will be referred to in the budget. One of its major tasks will be to overcome shadow economy. "A special aspect concerning the security of citizens will be considered and this will become evident in the next budget", the Prime minister added.

Among other measures is the establishment of joint investigation teams headed by the Prosecutor's Office and involving the Ministry of Interior, the State Agency for National Security and experts, including the National Revenue Agency and the Customs Office. These teams will focus on tough cases with major public significance and are expected to come up with proper results. In September, the Council of Ministers will consider amendments both to the Criminal and the Criminal Procedure Code, which should provide conditions for accelerating the pre-court and court phase of the penal procedure in the field of organized crime and corruption. The amendments to the Special Intelligence Means Act provide for greater current and follow-up control over the use, storage and disposal of such resources. A penal policy concept is also underway which will be brought up for discussion at the National Security Advisory Committee with the Bulgarian President and also for adoption by the National Parliament. After the amendments made to the Law for the Ministry of Interior, there are upcoming changes in the Rules on its Implementation relevant to the newly established structure which will also set out the position of the internal security unit with the MI. This should lead to strengthening internal control procedures and putting an end to information leakage. Preparation is also underway for modernization and computerization of investigating police authorities and the MI as a whole - a measure aimed at enhancing their efficiency.