Lifting the Lid on Lobbying in Bulgaria

A round table discussion on the topic “Light on Lobbying in Bulgaria: transparency, integrity, equality of access” took place on 16 December 2014 in Radisson Blu Hotel Sofia. The discussion aimed to map the key deficiencies, as well as recommendations for improvement of the legal framework, policies and practices regarding transparency, integrity and equality of access to decision-making in Bulgaria.

The national report “Lobbying in Bulgaria: interests, influence, politics”, developed by the team of Transparency International-Bulgaria was also presented during the discussion. The report has been prepared within the framework of the Lifting the Lid on Lobbying initiative of Transparency International.

The discussion was formally opened by Mr. KalinSlavov, Executive director of Transparency International-Bulgaria, Mr. OgnyanMinchev, Chairman of TI-Bulgaria and Mr. Ivan Ivanov, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. Mrs. Katia Hristova-Valtcheva, expert at Transparency International-Bulgaria and Mrs. Linka Toneva-Metodieva, program coordinator at Transparency International-Bulgaria presented the main findings and recommendations of the national report “Lobbying in Bulgaria: interests, influence, politics”.

Mr. TsvetanSimeonov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry took part in the discussion with a presentation on the perspectives for self-regulation in the private sector regarding lobbying activities.

Mrs. SvetlaKostadinova, Executive director of the Institute for Market Economy made a presentation on the possibilities and failures of the instrument of impact assessment of legislation in Bulgaria.

Representatives of political parties, members of Bulgarian business associations, the civil society sector and the media also took part in the forum.