The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, architect Ivan Shishkov, held a specialized working meeting dedicated to discussing the draft of the framework document titled "Green Paper on Decentralization and Multilevel Governance in the Republic of Bulgaria." The discussion involved a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), numerous municipalities, state agencies, the scientific community, and non-governmental organizations, the Ministry reported.
Deputy Minister Polya Zaneva emphasized that effective decentralization is established as a key measure in Priority 13.4 of the Management Program of the Republic of Bulgaria 2026-2030, adopted by the Council of Ministers. The preparation of the "Green Paper" is a direct consequence of the Ministry's regulatory responsibilities, given that the Decentralization Strategy concluded its implementation period at the end of 2025.
The document was prepared by the National Center for Territorial Development EAD and represents a comprehensive analysis at the national level. It examines the current state of decentralization processes in detail, defining the main challenges, trends, and problems. The goal of this initiative is to open a broad discussion on important issues that will predetermine future management decisions, institutional reforms, and legislative initiatives.
"In the caretaker government, we were among the first to open the topic of financial support for municipalities. We must create a mechanism to give local authorities greater flexibility in management, because there is nothing worse than having someone impose a policy that differs from local issues when they are the ones closest to the people's problems. What is coming as a future policy and relationship with the municipalities is not just decentralization, but a change in the way the state partners with them," architect Shishkov commented during the meeting.
The Minister recalled the importance of the "Regions Speak" initiative, stressing that it is an integral part of the upcoming development, as "people's problems are first and foremost local." He pledged active cooperation with mayors and municipalities, assuring them of the central government's partnership, and added that all districts in the country will be visited as part of the initiative. The goal is to achieve a better living environment and effective connectivity between the regions.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the NAMRB and Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, Daniel Panov, stated that decentralization is a constant focus in the work of local authorities. According to him, the upcoming reform is an important chance for municipalities to plan their activities more efficiently, quickly, and transparently. During the discussion, the NAMRB presented specific proposals:
- Restoration of the activities and the coordinating role of the Council on Decentralization of State Governance.
- Termination of the practice of imposing unfunded mandates on municipalities.
- Introduction of a mechanism for a portion of personal income tax to remain in municipal budgets.
- Development of new methodologies for distributing transfers to local authorities.
Deputy Minister Zaneva concluded that dialogue with all stakeholders is a priority, assuring that all comments and suggestions from the meeting will be included in the final version of the document. She expressed hope that the NAMRB will continue to be a reliable partner in the efforts to establish Bulgaria as a modern European state.
We remind you that the Management Program of the Republic of Bulgaria 2026-2030, adopted in the first half of August, sets ambitious goals for building sustainable institutions, a competitive economy, and modern social governance, which will guarantee the well-being of citizens and the national interest for future generations.