site.btaRenew Europe Group in European Parliament to Investigate Judicial Abuses in Bulgaria

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament said in a press release on Wednesday that a taskforce on government abuses against the rule of law in Bulgaria has been set up, following what the group calls alarming reports of political persecution, abuse of prosecutorial powers and systemic obstruction of judicial reform. The press release further adds that this decision was adopted by the Renew Europe Bureau amid growing concerns over the arrest of Varna’s mayor, Blagomir Kotsev, on July 8, a case that they consider emblematic of the erosion of judicial independence in Bulgaria. At the group’s instigation, the European Parliament held an urgent debate on systematic attacks on the rule of law in Bulgaria this week.

The taskforce on Bulgaria comprises five MEPs who will conduct a fact-finding mission in Sofia and Varna. They will meet with institutional actors, magistrates, journalists, and civil society organizations. A final report containing recommendations is expected to be presented by May 2026, ahead of the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law report. The political group called on the European Commission to act without delay to suspend EU payments linked to judicial reforms until Bulgaria demonstrates true institutional independence and strengthens prosecutorial accountability with a genuine separation of powers.

Renew Europe Chair Valerie Hayer stated that the case of Blagomir Kotsev is not an isolated incident, but rather a challenge to Europe's determination to defend its values when they are threatened by individuals abusing state power for political purposes. “We expect full cooperation from the Bulgarian government,” she said. Hayer insists that EU funds should never support systems that undermine the rule of law.

Later in the day, the European Parliament will discuss the state of the rule of law in Bulgaria at the request of Renew Europe. The debate is titled “The ongoing attacks on democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bulgaria”.