September 28 (SeeNews) - The European Commission (EC) said on Thursday that it has sent letters of formal notice to Bulgaria calling on it to address the incorrect transposition of EU rules on the presumption of innocence and to adopt the 2D barcode on the uniform format for visas.
The Commission has also advanced ongoing infringement proceedings against Bulgaria in three additional cases, the EC said in a statement following its September package of infringement decisions. The cases relate to directives on the right to information in criminal proceedings, the use of digital tools and processes in company law, as well as water framework and flood risk management.
Regarding the transposition of EU rules on the presumption of innocence, Bulgaria falls short of the directive's requirements, including handling public references to guilt, the right against self-incrimination and remedies for rights violations. Additionally, Bulgarian legislation does not correctly cover the directive's scope, particularly for undetained suspects who do not benefit from it, the EU executive said.
In the second new case, related to the implementation of the 2D barcode on visas, which had a deadline in May 2022, Bulgaria is still failing to include the barcode on the visa stickers it issues, the Commission said.
Bulgaria should address all concerns in two months.