BULGARIA’S GOVERNMENT ADOPTED A ROADMAP FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UPDATED STRATEGY FOR THE JUDICIAL REFORM

Bulgaria’s government adopted a roadmap for implementation of the updated strategy for continuing the judicial system reform. The roadmap includes specific actions on the measures of the strategy bound with the expected results, fulfilment indicators, deadlines and responsible institutions, the Bulgarian government’s press office announced on 20th of April.

The most important measures include the introduction of new rules for checking and assessment of the integrity of magistrates; strengthening the Inspectorate of the Supreme Judicial Council; introduction of programme budgeting in all courts; drafting the court map in view of regulating the workload of courts and magistrates; introduction and application of the new rules for the appraisals of magistrates and disciplinary actions; development of a new concept for criminal policy; development of penitentiary system (including introduction of electronic monitoring); setting up of systems and registers for development of alternative dispute resolution systems, enforcement proceedings; reform of the model of expert opinions and others.

The implementation of the activities will be financed by the state budget and the European social fund through Operational Programme “Good Governance”.

The preparation of the roadmap is one of the preliminary conditions in accordance with the Partnership Agreement with the European Commission for the programme period 2014 – 2020. The document was discussed and approved at a meeting of the Council for Implementation of the Updated Strategy for the judicial system reform on 7th of April.