Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program for the 17th NISPAcee Annual Conference Program Overview General Session Author(s) Pavel Pavlov Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" Varna Bulgaria Nedyalkov Krasimir, Title Challenges and reference points points for trasformation of the Bulgarian administrative system File Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. Presenter Abstract (Revised resume) The focus of paper analysis is the Bulgarian administrative system and the need to undergo qualitative transformation corresponding both to the EU requirements for 2007-2013 planning period and the expectations of the Bulgarian society for the so called “administration with a human face”. The paper is based on extensive review of public administration reform in Bulgaria including theoretical researches, sociological surveys, reports and inputs from Bulgarian authorities and external evaluation of expert missions. The paper conclusions are also supported by personal observations and interview findings with officials and civil servants from central government. The study looks at two stages of analysis. First, it provides an overall evaluation of the status of the Bulgarian administration. It examines the performance of state administration and displays the core problems and key areas where fundamental improvements are needed. In general, the research reveals slowdown of the administrative reform, lack of adequate “absorption” and economic capacity of the state administration, unsatisfactory level of vertical and horizontal coordination and control within and between institutions, insufficiently transparent procedures both for outsourcing of administrative services and public-private partnership. Next, the conducted study testifies the strong need for transforming the Bulgarian administrative system and it presents a summary of the most significant challenges and reference point for its successful transformation. In this regard several key areas are outlined and the author’s attention is focused on the following relevant points: first, the need for an updated national administrative “platform” with relevant policies and strategies for managing the administrative transformation, and second the need for specific synthesis of the administrative, organizational and information technologies at all levels of the administrative system. In addition, two other important points are emphasized: the need for scientifically justified optimization of the administrative processes, functions, structures and organization of the work, and the need for improving the efficiency of public control and ensuring permanent and efficient interaction of the administration with the business, the structures of civil society and with individual citizens. As a whole, the research findings and main conclusions justify the paper thesis that the triad «administrative re-engineering – administrative synergy – administrative sustainability» may be used as a theoretical and practical basis of the desired transformation of Bulgarian administration. It will ensure the required administrative convergence of the Bulgarian administration into a reliable unit of the administrative network of the European Union.
