Bulgaria Grapples with Soaring Corruption Rates: New Report Reveals Shocking Data
Corruption in Bulgaria has soared to its third highest peak in history, according to a recent report by the Center for the Study of Democracy
One day ago, the European Commission published its always hysterically anticipated monitoring report on Bulgaria's judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organized crime.
And as always, it became a tool for political retribution with the opposition calling it the worst ever report and the ruling GERB saying it was friendly, balanced, honest and very helpful.
"Worst" seems a bit exaggerated, but definitions of GERB officials such as "moderately positive," "moderately objective" or claims it aims only at the judiciary, which has continuously been blamed for all evil by Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, won't cut it either.
1. The report IS critical – in the Brussels-like, bureaucrat-diplomatic way it actually bashes the lack of reform in the judicial system, and of results in the fight against corruption an organized crime.
2. Romania, our reference, is doing much better.
(Those who don't believe the above two can read the original report or the reactions in the Western press.)
3. The Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, CVM, almost certainly would not be lifted in 2012.
"It would depend on the significant progress of Bulgaria and Romania," EC spokesperson, Mark Gray, pointed out, in a briefing where he declined making any other definitive statements.
Significant progress in just one year, under the current circumstances in Bulgaria, and in the light of mounting Brussels criticism, is utopia.
There is a will, but no results, the report stresses, countering the old Anglo-Saxon maxim: "When there is a will, there is a way."
Maybe this is why, here on the Balkans, this same saying sounds like: "To wish is one thing; another - to be able of doing it and yet another – to do it."
The latter paraphrased by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov as: "EC assesses Bulgaria as a hardworking student, who has the will and the desire, but not enough knowledge and skills."
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