Ensure a transparent election for the future SJC, with a public hearing in the National Assembly before the election of the members of the parliamentary quota, and giving civil society the possibility to make observations on the candidates. Establish a track record of transparent and merit-based appointments to high–level judicial posts, including the upcoming appointment of a new President of the Supreme Administrative Court. To improve the practical functioning of the ISJC and the follow-up by the Supreme Judicial Council to the inspectorate's findings, in particular on integrity issues, consider soliciting external assistance, for exa ...[+++]mple from the SRSS and/or Council of Europe. Adopt amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and the Criminal Code to improve the legal framework for the prosecution of high-level corruption and serious organised crime. Publish a report for public consultation detailing the progress made implementing the national judicial reform strategy and setting out the remaining steps to be taken.

This idea of a change of the SJC structure has been taken over in the new proposal for a judicial reform strategy adopted by the Bulgarian government and the Parliament.[7] The SJC, without fully opposing the change, has raised feasibility concerns, considering it would require a change of the Constitution, and could not be enacted through a legislative amendment of the Judicial System Act.

These concerns have been confirmed, as a number of key judicial appointments by Parliament and by the SJC have lacked transparency and objectivity and have been marred by allegations of political influence.[17] Independence has also come in question following a series of direct political criticisms of individual judges - the dismissal from the judiciary of the President of the Union of Judges by the SJC raises concerns in this context.[18] The Council has not taken clear action to protect judicial independence in these cases.

[25] Integrity issues were raised at the occasion of appointments of chairs to several senior courts, to the Inspectorate of the SJC and regarding some members of the SJC (Technical Report, page 6 and 14 and COM(2011)459final, page 4.

There are still representatives of the NSC in civilian boards such as the High Audio Visual Board (RTÜK) and the High Education Board (YÖK).

(c) Ministries of Justice, high councils of the judiciary or similar bodies and bodies responsible at a high level for the training of the judiciary and judicial officers;