Transparency and Anti-Transparency and Anti-Corruption in BulgariaCorruption in Bulgaria

Mr. Stefan Sofianski, Mayor of Sofia, Mr. Stefan Sofianski, Mayor of Sofia, Former Prime-Minister of BulgariaFormer Prime-Minister of Bulgaria

Presentation at MADAGASCAR GOVERNMENT Presentation at MADAGASCAR GOVERNMENT LEARNING RETREAT LEARNING RETREAT

‘‘‘‘Good Governance and Private Sector-led Growth Good Governance and Private Sector-led Growth for Sustainable Development: for Sustainable Development: Challenges and Perspectives’’Challenges and Perspectives’’Antananarivo June 13-15, 2003Antananarivo June 13-15, 2003

Bulgaria’s Anti-Corruption Record

• The only European Union candidate country that improved substantially its TI Corruption Perception Rank in the past four years – from 66th place (1998) to 45th place (2002)

• Reduced sizably five out of seven corruption indicators in the period 1999 - 2003

• Steadily diminishing corruption pressure and practices

• Emerges as an anti-corruption leader in South East Europe

Rate of Corruption in Bulgaria

3,1

2,4 2,32,1

1,1 1,2

0

1

2

3

4

October 2000 December 2002 March 2003

Corruption Pressure Corrupt Practices

Source: Coalition 2000 min=0, max=10

Public Pressure

Four Important Factors in Anti-Corruption in Bulgaria

Politic

al W

ill

Public – Private

Partnership

Inte

rnat

ional

Suppo

rt

Anti-Corruption

Political Will – Not an Easy Story

• Anti-corruption efforts started in 1997 and climbed to the top of public agenda after the year 2000

• Anti-Corruption came out as the single most important element in 2001 Parliamentary elections – the public no longer tolerated corruption and perceived it as the most detremental factor to development

• Major reforms have been initiated since 2000. In 2001 the Government in cooperation with the private sector and civil society has adopted a National Anti-Corruption Strategy and a detailed Anti-Corruption Program…

• …Next step - IMPLEMENTATION

International Support

• Bulgaria’s accession negotiations with the European Union have led to deep changes in the institutional and legal structures. Anti-corruption and related policies have been continuously under EU scrutiny and will stay on its radar screen in the future

• NATO entry requirements have brought substantial pressure on reforming the security sector and law enforcement institutions

• Bulgaria’s effective membership in a number of other international organizations (UN, OSCE, WTO, IMF, Council of Europe, etc.) has prompted additional action against corruption

• Donor institutions have been quick to react on Bulgarian requests for support in countering corruption

Public Private Partnership• Coalition 2000 (http://www.anticorruption.bg) – a groundbreaking

Bulgarian anti-corruptionan initiative started in 1997 by a number of non-governmental organizations aimed at combating corruption through a process of cooperation among governmental institutions, NGOs, private businesses and individuals.

• The Coalition 2000 elements:– Anti-Corruption Action Plan – a step by step guide for action

adopted by all major stakeholders– Annual Policy Forum – stakeholder meeting to assess

performance and give guidance for further action– Annual Corruption Assessment Report – the most

comprehensive public-private policy document evaluating institutional, administrative and functional anti-corruption measures

– Corruption Monitoring System – an indigenous system developed to ‘catch’ corruption trends in the country

The Six Action Lines for Bulgaria’s Clean Future

• Creating a Favorable Institutional and Legal Environment for Curbing Corruption

• Reforming the Judicial System• Curbing Corruption in the Economy• Enhancing Civic Control in the Fight Against

Corruption• Changing Public Perceptions of Corruption• International Cooperation

Creating a Favorable Institutional and Legal Environment for

Controlling Corruption• Legislative reform – extreme legislative burden,

which still results in low quality laws• Public administration reform – initiated in 1998 -

2000, still ongoing• Establishing new institutions and offices with

controlling and monitoring functions, and improving existing ones – modern audit and control institutions have been established, still to improve their functioning

• Reform of the political party sphere – several attempts but no definite results

Controlling Corruption in the Economy (1)

• Transparency and accountability in the privatization process – the most corruption permeated sphere in the economy due to inherent conflicts of interest. Many reform efforts with low results. Fast is beautiful.

• Developing a transparent public procurement system. Limiting overall state involvement in the economy – only gradual progress and problems still persist.

• Liberalizing the conditions for private business development – large-scale reforms are over but some fine-tuning is further needed.

• Limiting corruption in financial and economic relations within the private sector – the theme only just begins to surface in public debate.

Enhancing Civic Control in the Fight Against Corruption

• Developing the institutional framework of civic control – emerging stronger, especially after the initiation of Coalition 2000 process

• Involving professional associations and trade unions in the anti-corruption campaign

• Cooperation with the media in implementing the anti-corruption campaign – some media have been allegedly involved in corrupt practices but a professional investigative community is emerging

• Cooperation with religious institutions to foster moral integrity and counteract corruption – a long term investment that has to pay off

Number of Press Publications about Corruption

Source: Coalition 2000

0200400600800

10001200

Changing Public Perceptions of Corruption

• Anti-corruption public awareness campaign (Clean Future) – public acceptability of corruption has been lowered almost two times

• Public education campaign about the rights of citizens and obligations of the administration in the sphere of administrative services – citizens’ appeals to administrative courts against administrative mistakes rose by more than 30% a year (2000 – 2002), though from a low basis

• Anti-corruption campaign within the system of public education at its various levels – still a weak point though there are already curricula in anti-corruption

International Cooperation

• Cooperation with international organizations and integration structures

• International economic, financial, and trade institutions and organizations

• Regional organizations and initiatives• Regional cooperation on a multilateral and

bilateral basis• Cooperation with government aid

institutions on a bilateral basis