Central European Midday Report: "Bulgaria Strengthens Election Security While Moldova Advances European Integration Efforts"

Bulgarian Authorities Establish National Interdepartmental Unit for Election Security:

In preparation for the upcoming European Parliament and 50th National Assembly elections, Bulgaria's acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, interim Minister of Internal Affairs Kalin Stoyanov, and Chairman of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) Plamen Tonchev have signed a joint order to establish a National Interdepartmental Unit. The order aims to coordinate efforts to guarantee citizens' political rights and combat election-related crimes effectively.

The unit, led by Deputy Prosecutor General Elena Karakasheva, comprises members from various institutions, including the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and SANS. Its purpose is to ensure seamless cooperation among the agencies from the start of the election campaign to 30 days after the official announcement of election results. It will work closely with the Central Election Commission (CEC) and regional interdepartmental units across the country to exchange information and analyze data.

The creation of the National Interdepartmental Unit follows a similar approach adopted for local elections. The prosecution reported receiving 3,393 election-related complaints for the recent local elections, marking a 52% increase from 2019.

Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister Concludes Successful Working Visit to Austria:

Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, recently completed a successful working visit to Vienna. During her visit, she held discussions with Christoph Matznetter, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian National Council, and other members of the relevant parliamentary committee.

Gherasimov expressed gratitude to the Austrian deputies for their support and the opportunity to discuss Moldova's reform agenda and pre-accession process to the European Union. She emphasized the country's commitment to a swift European path, aiming to provide Moldovan citizens with an improved quality of life and a secure environment.

"We are committed to ensuring that the Republic of Moldova progresses efficiently on its European path. We have a clear plan and work diligently every day to achieve these goals," Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov stated at the conclusion of her meeting in the Austrian Parliament.