District administration hosts a round table on the local integrity system

A round table on the project “Index of the local integrity system – sustainable business development” of the Association “Transparency without Borders” was held in the Regional Administration in Veliko Tarnovo. The discussion was attended by representatives of the Regional Public Council for Combating Corruption, whose chairman is regional governor Ivaylo Zdravkov, and representatives of the municipalities of Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Lovech, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse and Silistra.
The forum was opened by the regional governor. He emphasized that any commitment by state institutions on topics such as integrity and corruption is not only useful, but also necessary.
“Our role is only preventive, but also to effectively counteract bad practices in the case of specific signals”, Ivaylo Zdravkov was categorical.
To the participants in the discussion, the executive director of the “Transparency without Borders” Association, Kalin Slavov, presented the National Strategy for the Prevention and Counteraction of Corruption in the Republic of Bulgaria 2021-2027. Kremena Chorbanova spoke about the road map for its implementation, and Vanya Nusheva presented the results of the study of institutions and sectors in the Local Integrity System in the sectors: Municipal Council, Mayor, Municipal Administration, etc.
The study found that Veliko Tarnovo started from the 10th place in the Local Integrity System Index.
Of the institutions of local government and local self-government in Veliko Tarnovo, the municipal administration received the highest rating with an index of 3.95 points (out of 5 possible). The mayor has 3.62 t.
Among the reasons for the high evaluation of the administration are the established systems for providing administrative services, including electronic services.
The municipal council receives a rating of 3.37 points. The main positives in its work are related to the effective search for accountability from the mayor and the administration, as well as in ensuring publicity regarding the discussed documents, it became clear during the discussion, in which many recommendations were also heard to the work of local parliaments.
The regional governor assured that all of them will be discussed at his regular meeting with the chairmen of Municipal Councils from the region, which is scheduled for next week.