"We have a will to continue the reforms in all sectors," Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said at a meeting with the ambassadors of the EU Member States at the Council of Ministers Monday afternoon. Participating in the meeting were Deputy prime ministers Ivailo Kalfin and Meglena Plougchieva as well as European Affairs Minister Gergana Passy.

The Prime Minister presented to the diplomats a proposal for deepening and overbuilding cooperation in key areas of the reforms underway in Bulgaria. The idea of the initiative is to open up certain key sectors of the Bulgarian administration to experts possessing the requisite skills and experience, so as to achieve full compliance with Bulgaria's commitments to the EU and enhance transparency and effectiveness of the reforms in this country.

The Prime Minister noted that there are already more than 130 experts of other MS participating in projects with their expert potential and this is assessed in highly positive terms. These projects cover almost all structures of the executive and all spheres. "I think that, together, we could achieve even better results and learn from the best practices," said Stanishev. The Government's wish is to focus this cooperation on spheres and projects, where strengthening of the administrative capacity and overcoming of weaknesses will be promoted, he specified.

"A strategic review of the spheres, in which the country should persist with the reforms has been made and we can clearly define the goals, the duration and the legal terms of the schemes of cooperation between Bulgaria, the Member States and the European Commission," the Prime Minister stated.

Stanishev told the diplomats that his wish is to have the possibilities of cooperation defined in a protocol, which will represent the position and the commitments both of Bulgaria and of the EU MS, which would like to share their experience through their in the persistence with the reforms in Bulgaria.

A similar proposal has been made before the President of the European Commission and the Commission's assistance will be an object to a separate proposal, Stanishev explained. Cabinet members will meet with representatives of the Secretariat-General later this week.

Now, it is particularly important for Bulgaria to meet the Lisbon criteria regarding the structural reforms, ensure transparency, efficient implementation and monitoring of the horizontal legislation on public procurement and the prevention of conflict of interests and accelerate the efficient implementation of the reforms in the judiciary within the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification.

"It is crucial to take concrete measures ensuring efficient fight against corruption and organized crime and to proceed with the strengthening of the capacity of the Bulgarian administration," the Prime Minister stated.

Source: BTA