EC's Reding Sides with Bulgarian Anti-Govt Protesters, Urges Change

European Commission Vice President Viviane Reding has addressed the mass anti-government rallies in Bulgaria, saying they clearly show the need for a political change in the country.

Reding, who met with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev in Sofia on Monday, declared that the Balkan country should increase its efforts to reform the judiciary and combat organized crime and corruption.

The European Justice and Fundamental Rights Commissioner said she hoped the political parties in Bulgaria would put efforts into achieving a national consensus, local media inform.

She said the European Commission is following closely the situation in Bulgaria.
Reding and Plevneliev agreed that reforms are necessary not because Brussels is pushing for them – but because Bulgarians need them.

Reding is in Sofia 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 series of the peaceful, but mass and persisting anti-government protests in Bulgaria was triggered by the scandalous appointment of media mogul Delyan Peevski as Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) on June 14.

Although the appointment was revoked, the people went on to demand that the Socialist-endorsed cabinet of Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, resign collectively over ties with oligarchs.

Plevneliev has declared his support for the protests on a number of occasions, prompting criticism from the government.

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