Bulgaria Grapples with Soaring Corruption Rates: New Report Reveals Shocking Data
Corruption in Bulgaria has soared to its third highest peak in history, according to a recent report by the Center for the Study of Democracy
Dragormir Stoynev, Minister of Economy and Energy, has argued that it is not normal for an EU Member State to have public procurement deals in a certain sector won by a circle of companies.
Speaking during a regional conference on transparency in government procurement organized by the US Embassy in Bulgaria, Stoynev emphasized that it was essential to eliminate corruption in the sphere as public procurement was a major means of accessing financial resources in times of economic crisis.
Stoynev, as cited by the BGNES news agency, suggested that there was a problem with Operational Program "Competitiveness" which was being frowned upon by Bulgarian businesses despite the fact that it was well-made, sounded good, and was very likely to be welcomed by the EU.
He emphasized the need for modernizing the economy and production by simplifying application procedures in order to prove that "public officials are not an enemy to or obstacle for Bulgarian business."
"On the contrary, public officials must assist Bulgarian business in absorbing funds, which are not an insignificant amount. It is not normal to lose money over delays in absorption," he said.
Stoynev was adamant that the dialogue with the business sector had to be restored.
"The first meetings of Prime Minister Oresharski were with nationally representative organizations of employers to discuss regulatory regimes. I have the feeling that the more talk there is about regulatory regimes, the more they tend to increase. Everybody says there is a will to tackle the problem, but they do not decrease. The problem no longer calls for will, what is necessary is urgent actions. The role of this government is to finally do the job," he stated.
"Now is the tome to do the job. There are no financial resources. There is social tension. I believe that another six months of timelessness would be detrimental to the economy," Stoynev added.
Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister also drew attention to the insufficient capacity both on a central and a local level.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
As the May holidays mark the onset of sea tourism, Bulgarians and foreigners preparing for their annual getaways are facing a stark reality: trips this year will come with a heftier price tag
Sofia, the vibrant capital of Bulgaria, is experiencing a surge in its economic landscape, surpassing the average European standard of living, according to senior researcher Peter Ganev from the Institute for Market Economics
Mounting uncertainty looms over Bulgaria's anticipated entry into the Eurozone, with officials cautioning that the prospect may be delayed amidst persisting inflation challenges
In an unexpected turn, Bulgaria and Turkey have been notably absent from the list of the ten cheapest European summer destinations for British tourists
According to the latest data released by the National Statistical Institute, Bulgarian household incomes experienced a remarkable surge in 2023, reaching an average of BGN 10,846 per household member.
The National Statistical Institute's latest report unveils a marginal annual increase in the income of Bulgarians in 2023 compared to their expenses, marking a reversal of the trend observed in 2022
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022