Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 323, November 2000

Case No 1957 (Bulgaria) - Complaint date: 12-MAR-98 - Closed

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 35. The Committee last examined this case, which dealt with eviction of trade union premises and confiscation of trade union property, at its June 1999 meeting. On that occasion, it noted the non-conciliatory tenor of a letter from the authorities to the complainant National Syndical Federation ("GMH"), which accused the latter of violations of the law as a result of unspecified "self-governing actions". The Committee urged the Government rapidly to make constructive efforts to ensure that all property confiscated be returned to the complainant, invited GMH to request the allocation of premises pursuant to the State Property Law and requested the Government to accede to that request, and to keep it informed of developments [316th Report, paras. 24-27].
2. 36. In a communication of 30 December 1999, the complainant stated that they would rapidly send their demand to the authorities, as recommended by the Committee. GMH further pointed out that they still could not use the premises, which they had completely fitted with telephone and other communication equipment.
3. 37. In its letter of 25 August 2000, the Government reiterates the information provided in its communication of April 1999, i.e. that the president of GMH did not respond to an invitation, sent on 25 November 1998, to take away the trade union property, and that in view of what the Government considers as an unreasonable lack of cooperation, the District Governor had implemented Decision No. 394 of 1 October 1993.
4. 38. Noting with regret that the Government merely repeats the information already provided more than one year ago [see 316th Report, para. 26], that no progress has been accomplished in this case and that the authorities maintain a non-conciliatory approach, the Committee recalls that the acts impugned in this case constitute serious violations of freedom of association principles. The Committee requests once again the Government to hold as soon as possible constructive discussions with the complainant organization with a view to settling, once and for all, the issues relating to the eviction of GMH from their premises and the confiscation of their trade union property. It invites the Government and the complainant to keep it informed of the results of these talks.