A lot of work is still to be done regarding the policies for competition protection, judicial system reform and living standards improvement in Bulgaria, European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said at her meeting with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev on September 17 2007.

According to Stanishev, the successful integration of Bulgaria in the EU did not end with the country’s entry of the union on January 1 2007.

Bulgaria should continue with further reforms, meeting all EU membership criteria and active, practical integration of European policies, he said as quoted by Focus news agency.

Stanishev said that he highly appreciated Ferrero-Waldner’s friendship and her personal efforts for the liberation of the six Bulgarian medics, sentenced to life imprisonment in Libya on charges of deliberate HIV infection of children.

Bulgarian medics’ case “showed what European solidarity means,” Stanishev said.

Earlier in the day, President Purvanov awarded Ferrero-Waldner Bulgaria’s highest honour, Stara Planina first degree order. Ferrero-Waldner was also given honorary citizenship of Sofia.