A meeting on increasing financial decentralisation at local level was held in Stara Zagora

Citizen Participation Forum organized a third regional meeting-discussion on increasing the financial autonomy of Bulgarian municipalities in line with good European standards and practices. In Stara Zagora representatives of local authorities, media and civil society organizations from the region discussed the topic on 20 March.

Slaveya Hristova introduced the participants to the Policy Advice Paper on Fiscal Autonomy and Financial Management of Local Governments in Bulgaria, which was prepared by experts from the Centre of Expertise for Good Democratic Governance at the Council of Europe, in cooperation with international experts. It aims to propose a set of recommendations that will contribute to improving relations between institutions.

The fair assessment so far is that municipal autonomy is scarce. Critically important issues and problems are outlined. Two scenarios for future policy are therefore proposed. The first is for comprehensive reform and is in line with international best practices. The second, which is recommended by the experts of the Council of Europe’s Centre of Expertise on Good Democratic Governance, is an alternative – gradual. It identifies those key elements of comprehensive reform to be developed at an initial stage, as well as some priority actions.

Possible recommendations to be included in a roadmap to support the decentralisation reform process were discussed during the meeting in terms of improving inter-municipal cooperation, increasing transparency and actively involving citizens.

Project ‘Developing fiscal decentralisation and improving local financial management in Bulgaria’ supported by the European Commission (DG REFORM) through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and by the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance of the Council of Europe. The author is solely responsible for the content of this document. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the European Union and the Council of Europe.