Transparency and accountability in the country’s governance and prevention of corruption are a key factor for Bulgaria’s successful EU membership, said Minister Nikolay Vassilev at a working meeting on the topic of Prevention of Corruption and Anti-Corruption Behaviour, held at the Prosecution Office. Open dialogue and cooperation between representatives of the three branches of power – the legislative, the executive and the judicial one, between NGOs, business and civil society constitute one of the conditions for success in this respect. This is how we can strengthen public trust in institutions, Minister Vassilev pointed out.

Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, for his part, called for establishing clear mechanisms to protect those reporting on corruption. Anti-corruption behaviour is indeed moral conduct; we would hardly get people trust us without it, he said. The drafting of possible protection rules for people who have warned of corruption cases in the public administration was also discussed at the meeting.

The conference was organized within the project launched by the Ministry of Public Administration and Administrative Reform Counteracting Corruption in Public Administration through Education of Officials. The aim of the project is to prevent corruption practices and reduce the risk of corruption by strengthening the administrative capacity at all levels.

In line with EC’s recommendations, the public administration will start a large-scale education of magistrates in IT and foreign languages. Their number is expected to be over 1000. At the end of July Minister Vassilev handed over 100 PCs to the Supreme Judicial Council. Minister Vassilev voiced readiness for cooperation with the judiciary in other areas as well.

Besides the three Codes of Ethics the ministry has drafted, regulating civil servants' conduct, the conduct of people, holding high state positions, and setting administrative conduct standards, it also prioritises improved and simplified administrative regulation and services. This is directly related to the aim of establishing transparent and effective mechanisms in the work of the administration.

The working meeting today was attended by representative of the Prosecution Office, members of different organizations and institutions for combating corruption.