The Center for Legal Aid discusses the state of play of monitoring mechanisms under the new EU framework

The Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria published an article concerning the requirements under both the Pact on Migration and Asylum and the new draft EU Return Regulation for establishing a national mechanism for monitoring respect for human rights during screening and return. Although according to Pact and to the National Implementation Plan this task should have been entrusted with the Ombudsman no amendments to the Ombudsman Act have been finalised to date in Bulgaria.

The organisation listed the changes envisaged by the Return Regulation, finding that the existence of human rights monitoring mechanism is vital to ensure effective protection of human rights.