Justice safeguard clause enforcement on Bulgaria is seen as an unfair step by the country's top prosecutor.
Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Boris Velchev commented that it would be unfair if the EU imposed the justice safeguard clause on Bulgaria at a time the country's judicial system was being reformed.
The top prosecutor argued that the judiciary reform should continue after May 16, when the crucial for Bulgaria EU report is to be issued.
The number of arrests in not important, what's important is to bring legal charges against leading underworld figures, Velchev said in an interview for the state radio BNR. He also pointed out that over the last 15 years in Bulgaria no key representative of the organized crime has been sentenced.
Still, Velchev vowed to launch legal proceedings against other people from the underworld.
The justice and home affairs safeguard clause may be applied if there are serious, or imminent risks of serious shortcomings in the transposition or implementation of EU rules relating to mutual recognition in the area of criminal law or civil matters by a new Member State.
Bulgaria has been seriously critisised by the EU over continuing problems with corruption and organized crime.