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Action Plan on the Implementation of the Benchmarks in the areas of judiciary reform and the fight against corruption and organized crime

The current Action Plan is elaborated in furtherance to the EC Report of June 2007 by an interagency working group set up by the Council of Ministers Decision No 28 of 18 January 2007 on establishing a mechanism for strengthened monitoring and coordination of the implementation of the benchmarks set in the EC Monitoring Report of 26 September 2006 and for implementing the EC Decision of 13 December 2006 establishing a mechanism for cooperation and verification for Bulgaria.

The working group, which elaborated the Action Plan, will carry out permanent monitoring on its implementation thus ensuring the timely achievement of the set objectives, avoiding the duplication of activities and preventing eventual delays. The competent ministers are responsible for the implementation of the Action Plan and the Council of Ministers approves the Report on its implementation.

A horizontal working approach was applied in the course of drawing-up of the Action Plan. The Plan was widely discussed and consulted with the public. The overall drafting process was carried out in active dialogue with NGOs with proven experience in researches related to judiciary reform, fight against corruption and organized crime: their representatives participated in the formulation of concrete measures; the draft of the Action Plan was accessible by the public through Internet and open for recommendations by the civil society, professional circles and organizations; the draft of the Action Plan was amended and supplemented during a round-table discussion with non-governmental sector representatives. The members of the Supreme Judicial Council participated actively in the Action-Plan drafting process. The draft of the Action Plan was discussed and approved by the previous Supreme Judicial Council as well as by the newly appointed members of the standing Supreme Judicial Council after its constitution. The Action Plan was also consulted with the European experts working in the country as advisors in the field of Justice and Home Affairs, including the twinning advisors.

The Action Plan is based on a thorough analysis of the EC Report of June 2007 and addresses the recommendations set in the Report. It ensures relevance to the EC recommendations, efficiency of the measures, internal and external coordination.
All possible risks related to the implementation of the Action Plan were explored and it has been designed to minimize and to avoid any potential negative consequences. The objectives and measures set in the Action Plan are both realistic and achievable which has also been confirmed by the independent European experts, who participated jointly with the Bulgarian authorities in the finalization of the Action Plan.

The measures in the Action Plan are relevant, logically connected and coherent to the existing national strategies and government priorities in the appropriate fields. The quantitative and qualitative indicators incorporated within the measures will allow for a precise reporting of the results of their implementation and the efficiency of the Action Plan. Firm deadlines set in the Action Plan will ensure the achievement of the objectives by keeping the clearly defined time schedule and possibility for ongoing monitoring of the process of the Action Plan implementation.

During the joint work within the Technical Assistance Expert Mission (15-19 October 2007) carried out with the EC assistance the draft plan was subject to an independent review and analysis, and the quality of the Action Plan was confirmed. The European experts, who participated in the mission, made recommendations for improving the Action Plan. The recommendations were discussed with the Bulgarian authorities and wherever appropriate, they were included in the final version of the Action Plan. Thus added value was achieved from the joint drafting of the Action Plan.

The Action Plan was endorsed by the Council of Ministers, thus ensuring the necessary financial resources for its implementation. The Action Plan will be carried out in the framework of the budgets of the competent institutions and in case of necessity through financing by other financial sources.