The MPs decided to create a Policy Coordination Council for Bulgarians Abroad, which would be a permanent advisory body to the Council of Ministers.
The bill to amend the Law on Bulgarians living outside the Republic of Bulgaria, submitted by the Council of Ministers, was supported by 114 people’s representatives, 38 voted “against” and eight abstained.
The deputies noted that the Council will coordinate the structures of the executive power in matters related to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the state policy in relation to the Bulgarian communities and their organizations outside the Republic of Bulgaria. It will resolve issues of a coordination nature related to the preservation and dissemination of the Bulgarian language and culture among Bulgarian communities abroad, as well as access to quality administrative services for Bulgarian citizens outside the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Council will issue guidelines and recommend actions for the reintegration of Bulgarian citizens returning to the country and for the protection of the rights and interests of Bulgarians abroad.
The work of the Council will be coordinated by a secretary. The chairman will be the prime minister or a member of the Council of Ministers designated by his order, and the members will be – the ministers of foreign affairs, justice, culture, labor and social affairs, internal affairs, education and science, e-government and the executive director of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians abroad.
The MPs agreed that the Council of Ministers will adopt regulations for the organization and activities of the Policy Coordination Council for Bulgarians outside the Republic of Bulgaria within three months of the entry into force of this law.
In addition, the amendments to the Civil Procedure Code, the Penal Code, the Bill for the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation, the second reading of the amendments to the Law on the Class Organization of Nurses, Midwives and Associate Medical Specialists, Dental Technicians and of assistant pharmacists, as well as changes to the Farmers’ Support Act.
At the beginning of the meeting, declarations were made by parliamentary groups, with which they honored the memory of the victims of the mass extermination of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
The draft work program of the deputies this week envisages that changes to the Law on Roads will be discussed in the first reading.
As the first point of the draft work program of the deputies on Thursday, the second reading of the amendments to the Law on the arrangement of the Black Sea Coast, as well as to the Energy Law, is included. The agenda for this day includes a draft decision to support the updated Roadmap for climate neutrality of the Republic of Bulgaria proposed by the Council of Ministers.
The proposed agenda also includes the first reading of the amendments to the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria. Deputies are expected to discuss the changes in the Law on Higher Education in a second vote.
Also on the proposed agenda is the second reading of the amendments to the Law on the Export Control of Defense-Related Products and Dual-Use Products and Technologies.
On Friday, it is expected that as the first point, the deputies will discuss in the second reading the amendments to the Law on Defense and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The ratification of an international agreement on Amendment and Addendum No. 2 to the international agreement (LOA) BU-D-SAB “F-16 Block 70 aircraft and associated support” (F-16 Block 70 aircraft and associated support) is also foreseen the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. There is also time for parliamentary control.
