John Stuart Agnew (EFDD). – Madam President, I wish to draw to the attention of Parliament a fraud by Russian groups targeting EU citizens in Bulgaria and to the inaction of the Bulgarian legal system. EU citizens own flats in the Nestinarka holiday condominium which they use during the holiday season. Last year, Russian nationals exploited gaps in Bulgarian law to set up a property fraud. That law allows formal meetings of owners to set community rules. Some Russian owners convened a non-quorate meeting out of season when most owners were absent. They elected themselves as the new condominium management and imposed a new regime of rules on all owners that enable flats to be seized. After 11 months’ litigation, the Bulgarian courts continue to empower the Russians, even after determining that the claimed meeting was invalid.

It is the Commissioners’ responsibility to ensure that justice systems are fit for purpose before and after EU accession. Bulgaria, which holds the presidency, is failing to meet its Treaty obligations. Instead of censure, it will be rewarded with EUR 1.9 billion from the EU budget.