Vaska Solakova
Attorney-at-law
Sofia, Bulgaria
Scholarship: Online Annual Conference on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (420SR31)
21 October – 23 October 2020
“I believe that my participation at the conference provided me with better knowledge of the subject. This is essential to my work as client representative in court proceedings.” 23/10/2020 |  |
- Q & A with Vaska Solakova
How do you use European law in your current work?
In my work as a legal practitioner in an EU member state’s jurisdiction, the question of the application of EU Law, as well as that of the compliance of Bulgarian national law with EU Law, often arises due to the supremacy of EU law over national legislation. Even more so, that question is relevant with regard to the legal capacity of persons, including those with disabilities, as this matter is currently regulated by both EU Law and International Law, as well as by the national legislation, which in turn is obliged to take note of the supranational legal framework and its latest developments.
What was your motivation for attending this particular event?
Taking part in the Annual Conference on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was an invaluable experience for me, providing me with deeper knowledge on the process of applying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in other EU Member States, since, sadly, the process of its implementation in Bulgarian national law is currently still ongoing. Due to the fact, however, that Bulgaria is a signatory party to the Convention, its principles apply directly to national judicial authorities on a case-by-case basis, even before it has been fully implemented in national legal acts. This presents a challenge for legal practitioners, such as myself, in choosing the applicable principle on which to build an argument, as well as in interpreting that legal principle properly in accordance with its true purpose.
How did you benefit from the scholarship?
As this gaining of insight into the workings of the Convention was my initial motivation to take part in the conference, I do believe my expectations for the benefits I would gain from the experience were fully met, providing me with better knowledge of a subject which is truly essential to my work as a client representative in court proceedings.
Again, thank you for the opportunity and for the work you are doing to advance the application of EU Law, as well as the qualification of us legal practitioners!
