Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov and Eurojust President Michael Schmid expressed a common position that the Balkan Forum of Prosecutors General, whose fourth meeting was held in Sofia, is a workable format for deepening cooperation on criminal investigations in the region.
Sarafov and Schmid held a working meeting within the Forum of Prosecutors General from South-Eastern Europe. The Head of the European Criminal Cooperation Office thanked Borislav Sarafov for the opportunity to participate in the high-level forum, which was hosted for the second time by the Republic of Bulgaria.
Within the last week, this is the second important international forum in which Borislav Sarafov and Michael Schmid participate. Last week they were in The Hague for the 19th meeting of the Consultative Forum of Prosecutors General and Heads of Prosecution of the European Union (EU) Member States.
"Our societies expect effective justice and speed from us, and we have a duty to give it to them. International cooperation is a key tool for this", Borislav Sarafov said, adding that Eurojust has an important role to play in this.
"The Balkans are a complex place, woven by contradictions and opposition. In the Balkans we have different religions and beliefs, and all this is gathered in a small territory. But we are all obliged to unite our efforts because our goal is common," Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov said. He stressed the importance of the forum as another way to achieve the goals of preserving security and the rule of law in the region.
The President of Eurojust, Michael Schmid, emphasized that in Sofia he had the opportunity to discuss the prospects for the conclusion of joint agreements between Eurojust and the countries of the Western Balkans and the Republic of Türkiye. Michael Schmid stressed the need to work on deepening cooperation between prosecutors' offices and courts in the individual countries despite the political differences in the region.