
Article 1 
Bulgaria shall, by 31 March of each year, and for the first time by 31 March 2007, report to the Commission on the progress made in addressing each of the benchmarks provided for in the Annex.
The Commission may, at any time, provide technical assistance through different activities or gather and exchange information on the benchmarks. In addition, the Commission may, at any time, organise expert missions to Bulgaria for this purpose. The Bulgarian authorities shall give the necessary support in this context.
Article 2 
The Commission will communicate to the European Parliament and the Council its own comments and findings on Bulgaria's report for the first time in June 2007.
The Commission will report again thereafter as and when required and at least every six months.
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force only subject to and on the date of the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession.
Article 4 
This Decision is addressed to all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 December 2006.
For the Commission
Olli REHN
Member of the Commission
ANNEX

Benchmarks to be addressed by Bulgaria, referred to in Article 1:

1.. Adopt constitutional amendments removing any ambiguity regarding the independence and accountability of the judicial system.
2.. Ensure a more transparent and efficient judicial process by adopting and implementing a new judicial system act and the new civil procedure code. Report on the impact of these new laws and of the penal and administrative procedure codes, notably on the pre-trial phase.
3.. Continue the reform of the judiciary in order to enhance professionalism, accountability and efficiency. Evaluate the impact of this reform and publish the results annually.
4.. Conduct and report on professional, non-partisan investigations into allegations of high-level corruption. Report on internal inspections of public institutions and on the publication of assets of high-level officials.
5.. Take further measures to prevent and fight corruption, in particular at the borders and within local government.
6.. Implement a strategy to fight organised crime, focussing on serious crime, money laundering as well as on the systematic confiscation of assets of criminals. Report on new and ongoing investigations, indictments and convictions in these areas.
