"Renew Europe" has formed a special working group which will conduct a mission in Bulgaria to investigate violations of the rule of law, the European political group announced. This decision was made following signals of political repression, abuse of prosecutorial powers, and systemic blocking of judicial reform.
The decision of the Renew Europe bureau was made yesterday, against the backdrop of growing concern surrounding the arrest of the mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, which took place on July 8, 2025. This case is seen as symptomatic of the deterioration of judicial independence in the country.
Valerie Hayer, chair of Renew Europe, emphasized the need for action: "Europe cannot close its eyes when the rule of law is attacked within our Union. The situation in Bulgaria requires careful investigation, courage, and solidarity with those who defend democracy and independent justice. Renew Europe will act."
The working group for Bulgaria, formed by "Renew Europe", will include five MEPs and will conduct a mission to establish the facts on the ground in Sofia and Varna. Meetings will be held there with representatives of institutions, magistrates, journalists, and civil organizations. The final report with recommendations is expected to be presented by May 2026, before the publication of the European Commission's annual report on the rule of law.
In addition to the creation of the working group, Renew Europe called on the European Commission to take immediate measures to stop payments from the EU related to judicial reform. This will continue until Bulgaria provides evidence of real institutional independence and strengthens prosecutorial accountability through an effective separation of powers.
The chair of Renew Europe, Valerie Hayer, also stated: "The case of Blagomir Kotsev is not an isolated incident. This is a test of Europe's determination to defend its values when they are attacked by those who abuse state power for political purposes. We expect full cooperation from the Bulgarian government. EU funds should never support systems that undermine the rule of law. Our Working Group will ensure that the facts are clear and the consequences are real".