The European Commission's (EC) reports on Bulgaria that were published on July 23 2008 should not lead to denial and negativism, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov said in an official statement.

"The reports contain not a few critical assessments which we have to objectively read and rationalise. They should not, though, lead to denial and negativism, to disregarding and underestimating what has been done so far by the Bulgarian institutions and the Bulgarian society as a whole. Bulgaria is walking on its European road and the assessments of the EC for the achieved progress and for the presence of political will should encourage us for quick and energetic actions," he said.

The EC reports said that the fight in Bulgaria against high-level corruption and organised crime was failing to produce results and that the EC had to act to protect European taxpayers' money.

Therefore, it had decided to suspend hundreds of millions of euro in aid to Bulgaria and was withdrawing the accreditation of two Government agencies to manage pre-accession funds. The decision had been made because of serious irregularities and because measures to improve problems in dealing with the funds were inadequate.

"We have to note and defend the positive steps that were made in legislation, in the restructuring of institutions and creating a personnel potential, as well as for improving the co-ordination and control of European Union's funds and programmes. These are important factors contributing to the financial, economical and political stability of the country and to the dynamic development of our economy and society," Purvanov said.

"At the same time, objectivity requires from us to confess there are serious problems in the work of a number of institutions and entire systems - in the bodies of order and internal stability, in the fight with corruption and organised crime, in the efficiency of the judicial bodies, as well as in the institutions that carry direct responsibility for the transparency in the absorption of European funds procedures," the President said. "Let us clearly say - the positive steps undertaken over the last months for now are only a precondition for overcoming the piled-up problems.

"It is now necessary that the legislative, executive and judiciary fully rethink their actions up to now and undertake specific measures for coping with the weaknesses pointed out in the reports and for achieving results satisfying the Bulgarian society and our European partners. It is time, along with the adoption of laws, to put emphasis on their active and unyielding application," Purvanov said.

"The Bulgarian society is within its right to expect: first - real, practical proof of our determination to counteract to crime and corruption; second - qualitative improvement of the mechanisms for interaction, co-ordination and control between the state institutions, especially in the fields and units, which with their activity impede our full integration in the EU; third - application of effective forms of co-operation with our partners for the creation of better managerial and administrative capacity. Training of a new generation of personnel capable to work in compliance with the European requirements and standards.

"It is important to us not to miss the chances for an overall modernisation of the country and accelerated increase of the living standard of all Bulgarian citizens that our EU membership gives to us," the President said.

"Our European choice is suffered and irreversible. We should not let eurosceptical and populist moods prevail. Bulgaria has the resource and potential to deal with the challenges and to continue successfully its development," Purvanov concluded.