EC steps up infringement proceedings against Bulgaria on public procurement, cybercrime
The European Commission said on December 8 that it was sending Bulgaria reasoned opinions, the second stage of infringement proceedings, asking Sofia to comply with EU regulations concerning public procurement and concessions, as well as the bloc’s cybercrime directive.
Regarding public procurement, the EC said that three new directives adopted in 2014 had to have been transposed into national law by April 18 2016. But 15 member states, Bulgaria among them, received reason opinions for failing to fully transpose the entirety of the new regulations, the Commission said.
The new rules make public procurement in Europe more efficient and transparent, with smarter rules and more electronic procedures, while at the same time making it easier and cheaper for small and medium-sized companies to bid for public contracts, improving transparency and competition and helping achieve broader policy objectives, such as environmental and social goals and innovation, according to the EC.
On cybercrime, Bulgaria was one of three member states to receive a reasoned opinion “concerning the non-communication of national measures taken to transpose the Directive on attacks against information systems into national law.”
This directive, adopted on August 12 2013, should have been transposed by members states by September 4 2015.
“The Commission considers that the measures notified by Belgium, Bulgaria and Ireland are still not fully transposing all the provisions of the Directive into their national legislation,” the EC said.
Should Bulgaria fail to comply with the reason opinions within two months, the Commission can refer the country to the European Court of Justice.
(European Commission headquarters Berlaymont building photo: JLogan)
