EC Vice President Reding Arrives in Sofia

Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission is on an official visit to Sofia on Monday. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The Vice President of the European Commission, European Justice and Fundamental Rights Commissioner Viviane Reding is in Sofia Monday to participate in the public Citizens' Dialogue.

The dialogue is part of the debates with EU citizens across the "Old Continent" in the frame of the "European Year of Citizens."

The opinions of people will help the EC in the preparation of future reforms in the EU, changes in agreements and new legislation. One of the main goals of the dialogue is the groundwork related to the elections for European Parliament in 2014.

The Commissioner will meet with President, Rosen Plevneliev, and with Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, Zinaida Zlatanov.

Speaking in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio Sunday, she said Bulgaria must have a working justice system and that she expected from the President to seek political consensus for the sake of his country.

Reding has already commented on the peaceful, but mass and relentless anti-government protests in Bulgaria.

"My sympathies are on the side of Bulgarian citizens, who are in the streets to protest against corruption," said the EC Vice President in an interview for the Bulgarian 24 Chassa (24 Hours) daily published on Friday, July 19.

The Citizens' Dialogue discussion in Sofia will be held in the Military Club between 10 and 11:45 am Tuesday.

Those wishing to participate can register at: COMM-REP-SOF-CITIZENSDIALOGUE@ec.europa.eu.

The debate can be followed online; social networks users can participate via Twitter with hashtag #EUdeb8 or on Facebook through the official page of the European Commission Representation in Sofia.

The Bulgarian National Television will air it live on BNT2.

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