LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

Better laws can lead to more than BGN 1 billion in savings, an analysis of the Council for Administrative Reform suggests

“The goal that I set is not only to work together but to work better together”, Deputy Prime Minister on Coalition Policy and Administrative Reform Rumiana Bachvarova said at the opening of the first annual meeting of the Council for Administrative Reform regarding the coalition nature of the Government. The Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Bachvarova, includes the Heads of all ministries, other state institutions, as well as representatives of regional governments and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the priorities of the Council for Administrative Reform are aimed at achieving even greater transparency in governance, partnership with the civil society, business facilitation and optimization of the administration. The Council will propose activities and monitor the implementation of commitments undertaken by Bulgaria under the Open Government Partnership initiative.

The Council approved the Roadmap for implementation of the State Administration Development Strategy 2015-2020. Its implementation would be mainly funded under OP Good Governance. The measures set out in the Roadmap include strengthening the partnership between civil society and the Government by working towards increasing citizens' access to public data. Public consultation processes will also be optimized.

The Deputy Prime Minister also plans to introduce, in partnership with the National Assembly, impact assessment of regulations. It is important to consider the economic and social impact of regulations, as well as the impact on the environment and other areas “because unsustainable legislation worsens the business environment”, Anton Gerunov, Secretary of the Council for Administrative Reform and Head of the Political Office of Deputy Prime Minister Bachvarova said. According to him, the impact assessment would save businesses more than BGN 1 billion in direct and indirect costs over the next three years.

NEWS FROM BCCI

At a regular meeting the EU Club welcomed the Latvian Presidency of the EU Council

Ambassadors and commercial counselors of the EU Member States, representatives of the government and the business circles as well as NGOs participated in the event Още

BCCI presented the British Ambassador H.E. Jonathan Allen with an Honorary Diploma

On occasion of the end of his term of office in Bulgaria Още

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba visited BCCI

Special invitation was extended to Bulgarian companies to participate in the International Fair that will take place in Havana in November this year Още

Meeting with the Commercial Counsellor of Poland

An upcoming visit of a Polish business delegation to Bulgaria in the second half of March Още

BULGARIA IN EU

Energy security and interconnectivity in Bulgaria and the other countries of South Eastern Europe - a priority for the European Commission

Bulgarian Prime Minister introduced the idea to turn Bulgaria into a common gas distribution center for EU Member States in the region Още

BULGARIAN ECONOMY

Bulgaria’s consumer prices in December fall 0.9% Y/Y, stay flat M/M

Deflation in nine of last year’s 12 months with the exception of April, July and October Още

Bulgarian exports to the EU growing, exports to third countries decreasing

The volume of imported goods is greatest from Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece and Spain Още

LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

Better laws can lead to more than BGN 1 billion in savings, an analysis of the Council for Administrative Reform suggests

The priorities of the Council are aimed at achieving even greater transparency in governance, partnership with the civil society, business facilitation Още

INVESTMENT NEWS

Bulgarian City Clinic to invest BGN 200 million in construction of three hospitals

The target is for City Clinic to become the largest provider of healthcare services in Bulgaria in the next three years Още

Bottle caps producer Herti will invest BGN 3.7 million

Half of the investment money is insured under European programme Competitiveness Още