Brussels, 15/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini noted on Monday 14 May that Bulgaria had made “good progress”, saying that he would take this into account when presenting the monitoring report on 27 June this year. Speaking at a press conference that he attended alongside Bulgaria's minister of the interior, Rumen Petkov, and Bulgaria's general prosecutor, Boris Velchev, Mr Frattini said the “Bulgarian government is getting positive results”. Despite their membership to the EU in January, Bulgaria and Romania remain under close surveillance from Brussels in several fields: the judicial system, management of European funds and food safety for both countries, and aviation security for Bulgaria. In these areas, close monitoring is implemented by the Commission which has the power to impose safeguard clauses and temporarily suspend specific rights enjoyed by Bulgaria and Romania under EU law (EUROPE 9335). In the field of justice, surveillance could potentially lead to sanctions, such as the non-recognition by the 25 other member states of decisions taken by Bulgarian or Romanian judiciary systems. Romania and Bulgaria presented their report on progress made over recent months to the Commission at the end of March. Mr Frattini pointed out that his contribution to the June report “will take stock of the situation highlighting progress made, even the latest developments, and also of course things that remain to be done” in order to meet objectives set. The Commission seized the opportunity to congratulate the Bulgarian authorities for their inquiry that led, among other things, to the dismissal of two Bulgarian vice-ministers in a case of high level corruption. “It is a really good example of how important it is to be serious, to be honest, to be transparent in fighting, preventing and prosecuting high level crimes”, he stressed, saying that discussions were underway on whether it was appropriate to send a specialised European expert - or to use experts already on the spot - to keep the Commission informed on this affair involving the misappropriation of funds. The Bulgarian authorities had earlier requested by letter that the commissioner provide assistance of this kind. Mr Frattini went on to point out that the Commission did not wish to “interfere” in an investigation of an independent nature. He finally specified that Commission experts were still analysing the reports and all the elements received for the assessment. At the end of April, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands - supported by Finland - complained about the delay incurred by Romania and Bulgaria in carrying out reforms required by the EU, calling on the Commission to step up its controls on these two new members. (bc)