site.btaEU Justice Ministers Discuss Transborder Protection of Asylum Seekers

A regulation that will guarantee the rights of adults, including elderly in need of protection or support, was discussed by the EU justice ministers on June 12 in Luxembourg at a final meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council under the Polish Presidency, the Bulgarian Justice Ministry said.

Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev supported the main provisions of the regulation, which aims to improve cross-border protection for elderly people with impaired or insufficient personal capacities who are unable to protect their own interests. This concerns challenges arising in situations across different member states, related for example to representation, medical care, and property.

“In recent days in Bulgaria, during various inspections initiated by the government, we discovered illegally operating homes for elderly people. In some of them, we uncovered extremely serious violations. This sharply raised the issue of the need to categorically strengthen protection for people in vulnerable situations, while at the same time criminalizing the operation of such activities by unlicensed facilities,” said Minister Georgiev in his remarks.

Due to the aging population and the possible deterioration of the mental and psychosocial capacities of elderly people, as well as the increasing number of people with disabilities of all ages, more and more adults require legal protection or legal assistance regarding personal or financial matters. The regulation will guarantee that legal protection provided to these individuals in one country is applied seamlessly across borders. It will contribute to protecting their rights, including the right to autonomy and access to justice within the EU.

The EU justice ministers also discussed the adoption of a directive to harmonize certain aspects of insolvency law. The goal is to promote cross-border investments within the single market through targeted harmonization of insolvency proceedings.

The ministers were informed about the activities of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the fight against impunity in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the EU-US ministerial meeting on justice and home affairs, negotiations with the US on an agreement regarding electronic evidence in criminal proceedings, and more.