site.btaBulgaria, Croatia Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Ties, OECD Membership at Justice Ministers' Meeting

During his visit to Zagreb for a meeting with experts from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the MONEYVAL committee of the Council of Europe, Bulgarian Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev conferred with his Croatian counterpart Damir Habijan on Friday, the Bulgarian Justice Ministry said in a press release. The main topic of their meeting was the prospects for developing and enhancing bilateral relations. Both ministers emphasized that membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a strategic goal and a priority for both ministries.

Georgiev briefed Habijan on the amendments being prepared by his team to the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Administrative Violations and Sanctions Act, and several other laws aimed at addressing the priority recommendations from Bulgaria's report. This is crucial for obtaining a positive assessment of the country's readiness for OECD membership.

The two sides agreed that aligning policies in both Bulgaria and Croatia with the best international standards is key to successfully completing the accession process. OECD membership will support economic development and improve the standard of living for citizens in both countries, Georgiev and Habijan stressed.

Habijan congratulated georgiev for his team’s efforts to remove Bulgaria from the so-called "grey list" of FATF and shared Croatia’s experience in this regard, as both countries’ positions are very similar. In turn, Georgiev briefed Habijan on the concrete actions taken to implement the recommendations directed at Bulgaria, particularly in combating money laundering and terrorism financing, which are critical for removing Bulgaria from the FATF list.

The two ministers also exchanged views on the EU Directive on combating domestic violence, which is a priority not only in legislation but also in the practical work of Bulgarian justice.

Both officials agreed that there is solid potential for expanding cooperation between Bulgaria and Croatia, both bilaterally and within the EU framework.