EXCLUSIVELY ON PEAK TV! The MPs decided: A Council for Coordination of Policies for Bulgarians Abroad is being established (UPDATED/LIVE)

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The Parliament is debating in its second reading changes to the Law on Bulgarians living outside Bulgaria, which envisages the creation of a Council for Coordination of Policies for Bulgarians Abroad. This is foreseen by the first point of the draft program for the work of the deputies, published on the website of the institution.

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The amendments are introduced by the Council of Ministers. At the first reading, the bill was supported by 116 people’s representatives, 44 voted “against” and 10 “abstained”.

The session of the Parliament began with declarations by parliamentary groups on the occasion of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“The DPS are not there when we discuss the Armenian Genocide. Because they are fulfilling Erdogan’s will. We were lucky to be freed and keep half of the Bulgarian lands. But the Armenians were not that lucky. That the DPS is not here is a statement that is very louder than a thousand declarations in the hall”, the leader of “Vazrazhdane” Kostadin Kostadinov got angry from the rostrum.

The deputies honored the memory of the Armenians with a minute’s silence. After that, the MPs moved on to the discussion of the Law on Bulgarians living outside Bulgaria, which envisages the creation of a Council for Coordination of Policies for Bulgarians Abroad.

The Council for Coordination of Policies for Bulgarians Abroad should help resolve issues of a coordination nature related to the preservation and spread of the Bulgarian language and culture among the Bulgarian communities abroad, including the preservation of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage.

It will issue guidelines and recommend actions for the reintegration of Bulgarian citizens returning to the Republic of Bulgaria, protect the rights and interests of Bulgarians abroad, synchronize the activities of programs and projects aimed at the Bulgarian communities and their organizations abroad and coordinate the work of the bodies of the central government in the implementation of the policy related to Bulgarians abroad, is also stated in the report of the leading commission.

In addition, MPs are expected to discuss in the second reading the changes to the Civil Procedure Code, the Penal Code, the Bill for the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation, the second reading of the changes 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.

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.

On Friday, the parliament is scheduled to discuss in the second reading amendments to the Law on Defense and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria and ratification of an international treaty on Amendment and Addendum No. 2 to the International Agreement (LOA) BU-D-SAB “Aircraft F-16 Block 70 and associated support” (F-16 Block 70 aircraft and associated support) under the US program for foreign military sales (Foreign Military Sales-FMS). Parliamentary control is also foreseen.

After debates, the deputies 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.

Georgi Tahov, appointed acting Minister of Agriculture, was sworn in before the National Assembly. After the adoption of the program and declarations by the parliamentary groups, Takhov was invited to the plenary hall to take the oath. Rosen Zhelyazkov read the decree of President Rumen Radev, which makes structural changes in the office of Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev. With his decree, President Rumen Radev appointed Dimitar Glavchev as acting minister of foreign affairs, and Georgi Takhov as acting minister of agriculture and food.

Zhelyazkov pointed out that Glavchev, appointed acting prime minister, has already taken the oath as a member of the Council of Ministers, and therefore the oath as a member of the Council of Ministers will be taken by Georgi Takhov, appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Food.

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