Monitoring Group

Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev wants special monitoring of Bulgaria under the new mechanism, which links the rule of law to receiving funds from European funds.

Geshev himself stated this to journalists after his hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels.

He addressed the Monitoring Group in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

As head of a minority coalition (currently supported in parliament by part of the opposition), Jansa is taking advantage of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming EU presidency to maintain his grip on power.

Ljubljana – CIVICUS, an international organisation of NGOs, warns in its latest report of the attitude of Prime Minister Janez Janša and the Democrats (SDS) towards the civil society and media. It expresses concern over government attacks on the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) and a ban on protests.

Brussels – Addressing the EU Parliament plenary on Wednesday, EU Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova pointed to continuous attempts to undermine the sustainable funding and the independence of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA). She also noted that frequent verbal attacks against journalists in the country were cause for concern.

Ljubljana – The European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group held a virtual public discussion on media freedom in Slovenia on Friday featuring representatives from Slovenia and the European Commission. Group members expressed concern about the situation and their expectations for the Commission to take action.

Brussels – Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld (Renew) has invited PM Janez Janša to Brussels to take part in a discussion on the media in Slovenia that is expected to take place in March, public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported on Monday.

The first-reading approval of the figure of a prosecutor entitled to investigate the Prosecutor General in Bulgaria has come as a surprise for the European Commission for Democracy through Law (aka Venice Commission).

The Venice Commission announced this at today's monitoring group meeting in the European Parliament, Radio Horizont learnt from its sources.

The Monitoring Group on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in the European Parliament will discuss the situation in Bulgaria for the second time. The subcommittee meeting will be virtual, the BNR said.

The meeting of the Monitoring Group on Democracy, Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law in the European Parliament, at which the situation in Bulgaria will once again be discussed, will take place on 8 January, MEP Elena Yoncheva wrote on her Facebook page.

The hearing of Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and Justice Minister  Desislava Ahladova by the Monitoring Group of the European Parliament has been postponed until January, Radio Horizont has learned.

The on Democracy, Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law Monitoring Group has invited them for 17 December.