The European Commission has announced that it is filing a lawsuit against Bulgaria before the Court of the European Union, as our country has not communicated the measures for full implementation of the European rules on the rights of crime victims into the national legislation, BTA reported.
The deadline for implementing the rules expired on November 16, 2015, the announcement noted.
European rules contribute to protecting the right of crime victims to access information and support services. All victims of crime in the EU should receive appropriate information, support and protection, and be able to participate in criminal proceedings.
Victims of crimes should receive respectful treatment, tact, understanding, professionalism, without any discrimination, from everyone who comes into contact with them, the commission clarifies.
In 2019, the EC initiated 25 criminal proceedings against EU countries for incomplete implementation of the new rules, and so far all have been closed, with the exception of the proceedings against Bulgaria. In January 2016, the commission sent an official notification letter to our country, in March 2019 it took follow-up actions. After numerous contacts with the Bulgarian authorities after 2019, and taking into account the latest responses, the EC decided to file a claim, as two provisions have not yet been introduced into the Bulgarian legislation, the announcement noted.
The Commission specifies that it will ask the EU Court to impose a financial fine on our country.
