European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Photo by EPA/BGNES
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has expressed his concerns following the shocking appointment of a controversial businessman as head of Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (DANS).
Bulgaria’s Parliament reversed on Wednesday its decision to appoint media mogul Delyan Peevski as head of DANS after dozens of thousands joined peaceful protest rallies against the appointment. The move failed to appease protesters, who have demanded the resignation of recently sworn-in PM Plamen Oresharski.
“I'm aware that the political situation is tense, reflecting Bulgarian society's desire to see lasting reform and the highest principles of integrity in the political system. I appreciate the reassurances I have received from the Prime Minister regarding the respect for the rule of law,” Barroso said after meeting with Oresharski for the first time on Friday.
“I've made this point very clearly to the Prime Minister, our concerns. We know that the situation from a political point of view is polarised in Bulgaria,” Barroso said.
He urged Oresharski to consult widely on key appointments, especially in the areas of the fight against corruption and organised crime.
“The candidates chosen should be based on merit and should have the highest standards of integrity,” the European Commission President noted.
“We have agreed that our officials will meet to discuss the wider priorities under the cooperation and verification mechanism so that progress can be made before the next scheduled report at the end of the year,” he added.