Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program for the 17th NISPAcee Annual Conference Program Overview IV. Working Group on PA Reform in CEE&CA Author(s) Polya Katsamunska University of National and World Economy Sofia Bulgaria Title Reform process in Bulgaria: Challenges and perspectives after joining EU File Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. Presenter Abstract After almost two decades of purposeful reforms and important financial and technical support from the EU in the pre-accession period and two years as a full member of EU Bulgaria still faces lots of problems in governance. The paper is based on extensive review of the public administration reform process in Bulgaria and its main objective is to outline the key challenges and perspectives in achieving a modern type of governance and well-functioning and transparent administrative system, capable to apply the best European practices and policies. In general, the assessment points out that the administrative system as well as judicial one needs serious strengthening. Obviously, it is not realistic to assume that deep change would be quick, but the progress has been slow and more limited than expected despite all efforts of the government. The study looks at two stages of analysis. First, it provides an overall evaluation of governance effectiveness in Bulgaria based on the Worldwide Governance Indicators project of the World Bank. It displays the current situation with the government, examines the performance of state administration and points out the key areas and core problems, in which fundamental improvements are needed, because the reform has not yet produced sufficient results. . Next, the analysis summarizes the main results, achievements and shortcomings of the reform process. A special emphasis is paid to the management of EU funds by the Bulgarian authorities, corrective actions taken to eliminate serious weaknesses in the management and control systems and to prepare for the absorption of assistance under the Structural Funds. The main conclusion is that Bulgaria needs not only to enhance substantially its administrative and judicial capacity, but also drastically intensify its reforms and show concrete results in the fight against corruption and organized crime. This requires continued political will and determination. The paper analysis is based on inputs from the Bulgarian authorities, data from sociological surveys, reports from external evaluation of expert missions and internet reported researches. In addition, the paper findings are supported by personal observations and interviews with governmental officials and civil servants from central state administration.
