[JURIST] The Bulgarian National Assembly [official website, in English] on Friday adopted [press release] amendments to its constitution [text, in English] in an effort to increase the efficiency and transparency of the country's judiciary. The amendments, required for entry to the European Union [official website], were passed on their third reading, 192-28, with six members abstaining. Under the new changes, judges, prosecutors, and state investigators will no longer be entitled to full immunity, and instead limited immunity will be restricted to officials acting in their official capacities. A new monitoring body, to be elected by members of parliament, was also established. Constitutional changes in Bulgaria require a majority consisting of at least "three quarters of the votes of all Members of the National Assembly in three ballots on three different days."

Bulgaria [JURIST news archive] joined the EU [JURIST report] on January 1, 2007, following six years of accession negotiations. In February of last year, the National Assembly approved [JURIST report] the amendments at first reading following warnings from the EU over corruption in Bulgaria and potential delays in joining the bloc [JURIST report]. AFP has more.