Representatives of foreign investors, Bulgarian businesses, and non-governmental organizations, members of the Business Integrity Club, expressed the undeniable need for legal regulation of lobbying activities in Bulgaria through a dedicated law at a meeting held in the Ministry of Justice.
In fulfilment of international commitments, including those related to Bulgaria’s accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Ministry of Justice has prepared a concept for regulating lobbying activities, which will serve as a foundation for future legislative initiatives. After considering all comments from the OECD and the European Commission, the draft concept was reviewed this year at an operational meeting of the Council of Ministers and approved by Justice Minister Maria Pavlova. Its primary objective is to ensure rules and standards for lobbying, transparency, and integrity in lobbying activities, as well as to establish ethical standards for those engaged in lobbying. According to the Ministry of Justice, this will clearly define the boundaries of lobbying as a acceptable and legal activity, bringing transparency and accountability to the work of state and local government bodies.
"As an institution, it is valuable for us to hear different perspectives on this topic," said Deputy Minister Mihaela Mechkunova, who also heads the working group responsible for drafting the future law. She invited participants to consider how the regulations would function in practice when submitting proposals.
Representatives from the Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Confindustria Bulgaria, the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, the British-Bulgarian Business Association, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, and the National Association of Customs Agents attended the meeting. You can read the full article on the BTA website. BTA
