P-003655/2021
Answer given by Mr Reynders
on behalf of the European Commission (30.8.2021)
The Commission is aware of the United States’ individual decisions targeting certain Bulgarian citizens and the measures taken by Bulgaria on 4 June 2021. The Commission does not comment on individual listings made by the United States. As regards the rule of law in Bulgaria, the Commission is monitoring developments concerning the Bulgarian justice system in the context of the annual Rule of Law Report and its follow-up. The 2021 Rule of Law Report, adopted on 20 July 20211, covers key developments in the Member States as regards justice systems, anti-corruption frameworks, media pluralism, and other institutional issues relating to checks and balances. It highlights that challenges remain in Bulgaria, in particular as regards the fight against corruption, where a solid track record of final convictions in high-level corruption cases remains to be established, and also refers to the sanctions imposed by the United States under the Global Magnitsky Act.
As to the measures taken by the Bulgarian authorities, the Commission understands that several citizens have already challenged the administrative act used by the Bulgarian Government to establish a list of people who are ‘related’ to the sanctioned citizens before the Administrative Court and that, while awaiting the decision of the court, the execution of the administrative act has been suspended. The Commission is in contact with the Bulgarian authorities to ascertain all the elements of this case. As concerns EU restrictive measures, it is not the practice of the Council to impose sanctions on EU citizens.
The Commission is strongly committed to safeguarding the rule of law in the Union. It will continue to monitor Bulgaria in the context of the Rule of Law Mechanism and make full use of the available tools if necessary.
© European Union, 2021 – EP