site.btaJustice Minister: Cabinet Fulfilled Bulgaria's Last Commitment Required to Unblock Second Payment under Recovery and Resilience Plan

The Cabinet fulfilled Bulgaria's last commitment regarding the unblocking of payments under the second tranche of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev said at a briefing at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

The funds total more than BGN 10 billion, he said. The Government approved a draft law amending the Civil Procedure Code, which essentially reintroduces mediation as a means of out-of-court dispute resolution, Georgiev said. A compulsory information meeting for litigants is envisaged, which is not only a requirement under the NRRP but also a good practice that exists in all European legislations, the Minister explained.

Apart from the fact that it is a big burden on the judiciary, the main task here is to relieve citizens by explaining to them the benefits of settling out of court. 85% of the fee they have paid to the court will be returned to them when they settle as a result of this mediation procedure, Georgiev explained. The procedure covers more than 12 different proceedings from family disputes through those for partition. Partitions of inherited properties between multiple heirs last 6-8 years. All this can be resolved in a much more beneficial way for all through mediation proceedings, Georgiev said. He added that the draft bill has received approval from the relevant directorates of the European Commission so that it can be presented to the Bulgarian Parliament.