The European Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Sergei Stanishev (S&D, BG).
It recalled that the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Bulgaria had forwarded a request from the Public Prosecutors Office of the City of Sofia for authorisation to continue criminal proceedings against Sergei Stanishev with regard to an offence under the Bulgarian Criminal Code. Mr Stanishev was alleged to have lost, in his former capacity as Prime Minister of Bulgaria, seven documents containing information which constituted State secrets under the Bulgarian Act on the Protection of Classified Information.
Parliament recalled that under Article 8 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union, Members of the European Parliament might not be subject to any form of inquiry, detention or legal proceedings in respect of opinions expressed or votes cast by them in the performance of their duties. Under Article 9 of the Protocol, Members must enjoy, in the territory of their own State, the immunities accorded to members of their parliament.
However, the alleged offence did not have a direct or obvious connection with Mr Stanishevs performance of his duties as a Member of the European Parliament.
Accordingly, Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Mr. STANISHEV.