Press Release

04/12/2007

EPP-ED Group discusses Reform Treaty with Bulgarian magistrates. Dushana Zdravkova MEP and Íñigo Méndez de Vigo MEP

Dushana Zdravkova MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, hosts a meeting today, 4 December, with high-ranking Bulgarian magistrates in the European Parliament. They will discuss the Reform Treaty with MEPs Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, Co-Rapporteur of the Reform Treaty, and Geoffrey Van Orden, EP Rapporteur on Bulgaria.

Zdravkova commented: "It is my responsibility as an MEP to promote the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights to our magistrates and to make it comprehensible for European citizens. By means of a more intensive dialogue with national parliaments, we are determined to promote the Charter as a major instrument for human rights. This clear recognition of civil, political, economic and social rights reflects our EPP-ED values. The Court for Human Rights will be the guardian of its proper application."

The high-ranking Bulgarian magistrates include Judges from the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Supreme prosecution, Appeal Judges and District Judges, the Dean of the Law Department of the University of Sofia, civil servants and representatives of attorneys.

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo MEP said: "Taken as a whole, the Treaty of Lisbon is a substantial improvement on the existing treaties, which will bring about more democratic accountability to the Union (through strengthening of the roles of the European Parliament and the national parliaments), enhancing the rights of the European citizens vis-à-vis the Union and improving the effective functioning of the European Union institutions."

Other topics for discussion include a Council Framework Decision on the European Supervision Order in pre-trial procedures between Member States of the European Union, and a Council Decision amending the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice with regard to the treatment of questions referred for a preliminary ruling concerning the area of freedom, security and justice.

For further information:
Dushana Zdravkova MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845672, +33-3-88-175672 (Strasbourg)
Íñigo Méndez De Vigo MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845755, +33-3-88-175755 (Strasbourg)
Mina Dermendjieva, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32-485-292411

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 278 Members from all 27 Member States.

Dushana Zdravkova MEP is Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Substitute Member of the Committee on Petitions, Member of the Delegation for Relations with the USA and Substitute Member of the Delegation for Relations with the Gulf States and Yemen.