EU Sues Bulgaria: Three Lawsuits Filed for Breach of European Regulations

On Thursday, the European Commission filed three lawsuits against Bulgaria at the EU Court of Justice for failing to apply European legislation properly. Two cases concern non-compliance with European requirements, and one involves incorrect application.

These cases represent the latest stage in longstanding proceedings against Bulgaria for not fulfilling its obligation to integrate EU legal norms into its national legislation.

Rights of Suspects

The dispute over the rights of suspects in criminal cases has been ongoing for three years. Sofia and Brussels have been at odds regarding the European directive on information in criminal proceedings. The Commission argues that individuals suspected of crimes, but not yet formally charged, should have the same rights to information as those who are accused. The lack of such provisions in Bulgarian legislation could significantly impact the fairness of judicial processes, according to the European Commission. Despite Bulgaria taking initial steps to address these issues, the measures are deemed insufficient. Bulgaria was supposed to implement this directive in 2014.

The EU has established common minimum standards for accused persons and suspects, ensuring that judgments in one country are recognized in others. These standards are outlined in six directives covering the right to interpretation and translation, information, access to a lawyer, legal aid, procedural guarantees for children, and the presumption of innocence.

Rights of the Disabled

Bulgaria also faces a lawsuit for not incorporating the European Accessibility Act of 2019 into its national legislation. This act requires key products and services, such as telephones, computers, e-books,...