NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF

BULGARIABULGARIA

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF

BULGARIABULGARIA

25 APRIL 2005

BULGARIA – SIGNED ACCESSION TREATY

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF

BULGARIABULGARIA

Current situation - problemsCountry with traditionally strong

centralization;Limited access of municipalities to current

information and funding;Further capacity building at local level

needed;

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF

BULGARIABULGARIA

ChallengesAdequate preparation of local authorities

for EU accession;

Implementation of real decentralization;

More active role in legislation process;

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF

BULGARIABULGARIA

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

WHY IT IS NEEDED?

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

Bulgaria – beneficiary of vast amounts of resources;

Municipalities to play a key role in the absorption of these funds;

Needed transparency in engagements undertaken by state – consequences for LA.

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

GOALSUCCESSFUL PREPARATION OF BULGRIAN LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR EU MEMBERHIP WITH THEIR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE

PROCESS

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

OBJECTIVESHarmonization of municipal norms and

regulations with EU requirements;Provision of cervices to citizens complying

with EU standards;Capacity strengthening of at local level;Transparency and accountancy of LA.

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

POLICY TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT TWO LEVELS:

National levelInternational level - EU

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

NATIONAL LEVELNATIONAL LEVEL

Granted powers under over 11 Laws;Representatives of NAMRB in over 40

intergovernmental OP Working Groups, Monitoring Committees (ISPA, SAPPARD), etc.

Annual agreement signed with the MF on State Budget;

Municipal lobby in Parliament;

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

INTERNATIONAL LEVELINTERNATIONAL LEVEL

Cooperation with EU institutions – CoR, Commission;

Interaction with LA from EU member states – exchange of best practices and experiences;

Initiation support to Bulgarian LA among EU member-states;

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

FIRST STAGE – Institutional strengthening (July 2004 – July 2005 );SECOND STAGE – Implementation of municipal tasks during the last stage of accession (July 2005 – July 2007);THURD STAGE – Successful functioning of Bulgarian municipalities in EU (After accession)

THREE STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION:

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

Establishment of Council of EU integration;Functioning of municipal experts’ network ;Capacity building, provision of information and technology.

FIRST STAGE - accomplished

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

NAMRB OFFICE IN BRUSSELS

JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

CLRAEAT THE COUNCIL OF

EUROPE

EU LEVEL

NAMRB STANDING

COMMITTEES

MUNICIPAL EXPERTS’ NETWORK ON EU

INTEGRATIONSECRETARIAT OF EU

INTEGRATION AT NAMRB

NAMRB BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COUNCIL ON EU INTEGRATION

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

NATIONAL LEVEL

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

Harmonization of municipal norms and regulations with EU requirements;

Successful absorption of pre-accession, the Structural and Cohesion Funds of the EU;

Investments and other measures for meeting EU standards.

SECOND STAGE:

MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU MUNICIPAL ACTION PLAN FOR EU ACCESSION (2004 – 2005) ACCESSION (2004 – 2005)

Bulgarian municipalities – equal and competitive partners of EU local

authorities

THIRD STAGE:

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF

BULGARIABULGARIA

MEET YOU IN EU - 2007!