A damning verdict is due on BulgariaÂ’s failure to tackle organised crime and high-level corruption in the six months since the former communist country joined the European Union. | How are they against Islamicists? |
A planned law to protect whistle-blowers has yet to be tabled and “pro-active investigations into inexplicable wealth are not yet common practice”, according to the draft report seen by The Times and due to be published Wednesday. The review was commissioned last year along with an assessment of attempts to reform judicial, government and police systems in Romania, which also became a member of the EU on January 1.
Both countries were allowed to join despite grave misgivings over corruption, organised crime and judicial independence. Despite a lack of progress in some key areas, they are set to escape financial penalties and continue to receive the generous funding that EU membership brings, The Times understands.
| The Times always understands. |
Stanimir Vaglenov, an investigative journalist with the Sofia-based newspaper 24 Hours, said that the level of killings was set to continue. “The trouble with some Bulgarian businessmen is that you do not know where their legal business ends and where their illegal business starts. There have been at least ten such killings this year and unfortunately the forecast is for more of the same because they know no other way of doing business.”
Today’s European Commission report states: “Contract killings continue to be of great concern and in particular the most recent killings of local politicians. To date, no prosecution and conviction has taken place.”
Bulgaria will win some praise in other areas, notably its success in combatting corruption at the border and within local government. It has also set up systems to ensure the independence of judges and prosecutors. But the report adds: “In all areas, the Bulgarian authorities demonstrate good intentions. They have prepared the necessary draft laws, action plans and programmes. However, there is still a clear weakness in translating these intentions into results.”