Fond IGA finished successful project with conference

Fund – IGA carried out final conference on project “Anticorruption network in Pazardjik District” yesterday in the Press-club of BTA. In order to participate in the conference came representatives of 7 Municipalities in District Pazardjik – Belovo, Bratsigovo, Rakitovo, Lesichovo, Septemvri, Batak and Pazardjik. Leader of the conference was the District Governor of Pazardjik Angel Cholakov. The experience of the Municipal Council – Pazardjik in the institutionalizing of the local public governor shared the chairman of the Municipality Council Todor Popov. The Mayor of District Pazardjik Ivan Evstatiev told about the efforts of the District administration to ensure good conditions for the work of the local mediator. The Municipality mediators of Municipalities Lesichovo, Pazardjik and Batak shared their practice. Alexander Rusanov from Center for Study of Democracy generalize the practice of the local public mediators in Bulgaria and Dragomira Paunova spoke for the national politic for fighting with corruption and the new developments in the public-private partnership. A big interest provoked the information presented from the chairwoman of the District Public Council against Corruption (MSCAC) Nedelka Prejdarova for the activity of the MSCAC and the concrete signals submitted in the Consultative council for fighting against the corruption and the organized crime to the Municipality Governor. In the conference hall were the representatives of the Municipality council of Lesichovo and Bratsigovo – Georgi Stoilov and Gruicho Slavchev too. Municipality Lesichovo was the first Municipality in Pazardjik District to choose Public Mediator, and the Municipality Bratsigovo is the fifth Municipality to start a procedure for such a choice. Present were Municipal Councilors, representatives of the Municipal administration and the Municipal administrations of the 7th Municipalities, members of coalition “Civil Activity against Corruption” and the District Public Council against the Corruption. The participants in the conference defined “Anticorruption network in District Pazardjik” as an undisputed success. The project continued 18th months and was realized whit the financial support of the EU, PHARE program 2002 “Civil Society Development”.

Coalition „CAAC” continue their activity with a new IGA Project

On 10th May in the office of Fund – IGA was carried out working meeting of the members of Coalition “Civil activities against the corruption”. The last meeting within project “Anticorruption network in Pazardjik District” brought together the participants from “CAAC” in order to accept the annual activity report, prepared by the chairman of the Coordination council – Marina Manolcheva. The members of the coalition discussed their representation in the Closing conference on the project and the future of the cooperation. They unanimously took a decision to continue their activity within the recently started project of IGA “Local public mediator in District Pazardjik – guarantee for anti-corruption policy on local level. Advocacy campaign for influence on the practice of their institutionalizing” realized with the support of “Open Society” Institute and the Trust for Civil Society in Central and East Europe. In the basis of the project is the Advocacy campaign whose aim is the institutionalizing of three more public mediators in District Pazardjik – in the Municipalities Bratsigovo, Rakitovo and Belovo. Coalition “CAAC” acquired a highly esteemed experience in the realization of such campaigns, which will be used rationally in the realizing of the new project. Decision was made that for participation in the coalition should be invited local active citizens, supporting the initiative, as in the partner Municipalities there are not any working civil society organizations to take part in the campaign. In the beginning of June the Coalition will organize round table for the role of the local public mediators and the practice of their institutionalizing; host of the event will be Municipality Bratsigovo.

Open room of DPCC in Batak

In only two hours the Open office of the District Public Council against Corruption was visited by 8 citizens, who acquainted the members of DPCC whit their problems connected whit action or inaction of the competent bodies, determined by the citizens to one or another level as a corruption practice. Participation in the Open office took 6 from all 9 members of the District Council. Assistance for the organization was provided by Municipality Batak, the local public governor of Municipality Batak Malina Dimova and Dora Papanova – Municipality advisor of Municipality Batak and member of DPCC. To welcome the members of the District council in the Open office came the chairman of Municipality Council – Batak Ilia Stankov, who shared the positive experience of the Municipality council during the election of public governor and responded to some questions of the members of DPCC, connected with the activity of the local parliament. This initiative was realized in the frames of project “Anti-corruption Network in Pazardjik District” funded from EU, PHARE program “Civil Society Development”.

Annual report represented the public mediator of Lesichovo and the civil mediator of Pazardjik

For the third time the public mediator of Municipality Lesichovo and the civil mediator of Municipality Pazardjik made public reports of their activities. 12 written complaints and 48 consultations, regular lounges in the working days in the villages of the Municipality and concrete results were reported by Maria Dimitrova – public mediator of Municipality Lesichovo. 25 complaints were processed by Nedelka Prejdarova – civil mediator of Municipality Pazardjik. In all parts of her annual report she made concrete recommendations and proposals to the institutions. This is her final report having in mind the electing and the activity of the Municipality mediator. On the press conference the chairman of Municipality council – Pazardjik Todor Popov, underlined the contribution of Fund – IGA for the institutionalizing of the Municipality mediators in District Pazardjik. For the first time was introduced the Municipality mediator of Batak – Malina Dimova, the third elected mediator in District Pazardjik, who will start her activity in the beginning of April. Whit the institutionalization of three Municipality mediators, District Pazardjik takes a leading place in Bulgaria, because at the moment there are 10 Ombudsmen in all the country.

Informational Day in Panagyuriste

On 10.03.2006 IGA Fund and the District Municipal Council Against Corruption (DMCAC) functioning on IGA` s project, held an informational day in Panagyuriste. The local ombudsman was popularized before representatives of the municipal administration, municipal councilors and the media in the Ritual Home of the municipality. The legislative framework of the ombudsman institution was presented by the expert from Sofia –Konstantin Tanev- PhD of Law. The ombudsman of Lesichovo municipality- Mariya Dimitrova and the one of Pazardzhik municipality Nedelka Prezhdarova narrated about their practice. Two of the members of DMCAC, that were present at the informational forum, introduced their activity and encourage the participants to propose a member candidate from Panagyuriste municipality. This is the seventh residential area, hosting the event, already performed in Pazardzhik, Batak, Bratsigovo, Belovo, Rakitovo and Kalugerovo. The Informational days are carried out within project ”Anticorruption Network in Pazardzhik district” funded with the support of the European Union by program PHARE 2002 “Civil Society Development” Project BG 0204.02.

First Corruption Signals were presented by the District Municipal Councils

District Municipal Council Against Corruption (DMCAC) presented at the working meeting with Mr. Ivan Avramov- deputy governor, the first corruption signals, received by the members of the council. At the end of February DMCAC gathered to discuss the signals and consider those which to be put forward for investigation by the Consultative Council Against Corruption and Organized Crime (CCACOC). The signals are about certain actions of some people in Pazardzhik and Belovo Municipalities. Members of DMCAC will demand CCACPOC to consider the information entered within two months, in accordance with the regulations set by mutual sessions of the two councils. More than 20 signals have been entered in DMCAC so far. Most of the signals are anonymous by phone at the Coordination office of the Coalition “Civil Activity Against Corruption” and DMCAC and are not subject to discussion. A serious signal is registered at the Open Reception Room of the Chairman of DMCAC at the building of the district administration. The rest are received by three of the members of DMCAC. The Municipal Council is established in the beginning of November, 2005 and works within the project “Anticorruption Network in Pazardzhik district” funded with the support of the European Union by program PHARE 2002 “Civil Society Development”

Municipality of Batak - third one within the district with a local ombudsman elected

Municipality of Batak is already among the first 12 in Bulgaria (out of total 263 municipalities), which have a local ombudsman elected. After the first procedure started by the Municipal Council-Batak in the last year, failed, the municipal councilor started a second one and with the six candidates elected three ones to present their conceptions at the session of the Municipal Council. Malina Dimova collected 11 votes from 13 municipal councilors (12 gave their votes) and thus she was elected for a local ombudsman. The first ombudsman in Pazardzhik district- the one of Lesichovo municipality was institutionalized within a project of Iga Fund. The election of the second local ombudsman- the one of Pazardzhik municipality was also started as part of IGA` s project but was finally elected at the third procedure as 30 candidates competed for the post. Within Project “Anti-corruption Network in Pazardzhik district” funded by PHARE programme of the EU Civil Society Development, six informational days at Pazardzhik district, including Batak, for detailing legislation, theory and practice of the institution local ombudsman. Within two of these municipalities- Batak and Bratsigovo, the procedure was started and in the Municipality of Batak has already been elected. Thus Pazardzhik district is the first in Bulgaria, having three Ombudsmen legally elected by the Municipal Councils of the three out of 11 municipalities.

On work meeting DSCAC discuss passed corruption signals

On Friday in the office of Fund – IGA was carried out work meeting of the District public council against corruption (DPCC), working since the beginning of November in the frames of project “Anti – corruption network in District Pazardjik”. The members were introduced with the already published national “Strategy for transparent management and for prevention and countering of corruption for the period 2006 – 2008”. They discussed and agreed the District strategy for fighting with corruption and determined the time table for open offices of DPCC in the District. On this conference the received corruption cases were considered, and they will be presented on the coming common meeting of DPCC and the Consultative council for fighting against corruption and organized crime. It will be carried out this month, according to adopted regulations for common conference of both councils.

The office of the Public mediator of Lesichovo

The most recent work of the Public Mediator of Municipality Lesichovo was carried out in Dinkata village. Four citizens looked for help of the local Governor for solution of urgent problems related to administration activities with regard to unjust apportionment of the aid for the flood relief. The activity of the local Ombudsman is popular and the people don’t hesitate to look for help from Maria Dimitrova and share with her a big part of theirs problems with the hope to receive assistance.

Тhe office of DPCC is starting

On January 3rd 2006 Тhe District Public Council against corruption (DPCC) started his first open office in the building of the district administration.Тhe initiative received the approval of Angel Cholakov - District Governor of Pazardjik and chairman of the Consultative council against corruption and the organized crime (CCCOC). Two hours - from 14.00 to 16.00, every Tuesday and Thursday, the chairwoman of the district public council against corruption Nedelka Prejdarova will accept calls of citizen against corruption activities. The open office will work for realization of the aims, set in prepared common strategy about the activity of the two councils-DPCC and CCCOC

At last Ombudsman in Pazardjik

After a year long saga – the election of ombudsman of Pazardjik Municipality – has finished. After three elections and three votes on December 22nd the Municipal Council elected the ex-District governor of Pazardjik District Ivan Dimitrov. The councilors reached the necessary majority at last – 32 “for”, 3 “against” and 3 “abstaining”, and Pazardjik became the 11th municipality with officially elected ombudsman. The beginning of this saga is related to the IGA project “Public mediator in Pazardjik municipality”. After two unsuccessful votes IGA initiated the building of a coalition of 13 NGOs and CSOs, which elected for civil mediator the candidate that received the most votes at the second vote – Nedelka Prejdarova. She worked for 8 months and reported several times to the media. Together with Ivan Dimitrov she was the second candidate who was allowed to present a concept at the Municipal Council session, but the council voted for the ex-District governor. Nedelka Prejdarova will continue her work as Chairman of the District Public Council against Corruption, which will have offices in the District Administration headquarters effective January 3rd.

The District Public Council against Corruption meets the Kalugerovo community

In Kalugerovo a meeting was held between the District Public Council against Corruption (DPCC) and representatives of the local community. The council was established on the 3rd of November this year within IGA’s project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik District, financially supported by the EU Program “Civil Society Development”. IGA’s project coordinator presented the project objectives of the DPCC as well as the members of the council. Guest at the meeting was Boyko Velikov – Chairman of the Parliamentary commission against corruption at the National Assembly. He presented to the participants the main principles of the National Strategy for countering corruption and organised crime. The citizens asked lots of questions and discussed different forms of corruption and the role of institutions and civil organizations in countering corruption.

The District Public Council against Corruption meets the District Governor

The District Public Council against Corruption (DPCAC) was invited by the District Governor of Pazardjik District. On a joint session with the Consultative Council against Organised Crime the DPCAC presented its strategy and objectives and made concrete suggestions for future joint actions of the two councils. The measures and actions to be undertaken in order to unite the efforts of institutions and citizens in the fight against corruption practices in our region were discussed. Participation in the meeting took the Director of the Regional Directorate of Internal Affairs lieutenant-colonel Joro Stoitsev, the Director of the Territorial Tax Directorate Evgenia Hristova, Violeta Georgieva from the Agency for State Financial Control, Vihar Nedyalkov – District Investigation Service, Nevena Glushkova – Bulgarian National Audit Office. The District Public Council Against Corruption was established within project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik District”, financially supported by the EU program Phare 2002 – Civil Society Development.

Work meeting in Panagyurishte

Work meeting within project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik District” was held in Panagyurishte. The project team met representatives of the Panagyurishte Municipal Council to discuss the forecoming election of Ombudsman. The project managers presented to the participants the next steps of the project implementation. The available options for action in case the Municipal Council again fails to elect an Ombudsman on the second vote on November 30th.

District Public Corruption Council established in Pazardjik

Yesterday in Pazardjik a District Public Corruption Council (DPCC) was established within Regional Fund – IGA’s project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik District”, financially supported by Phare 2002 Civil Society Development Program. Members of the council were nominated by citizens of Pazardjik, Batak, Belovo, Bratsigovo, Rakitovo, Lesichovo and Kalugerovo during the information days held in the summer for popularization of the Ombudsman institution. “Civil Activity against Corruption” Coalition approved the composition of the council, whose members are now 9. The Constitutive Assembly decided to include in the council all local Public mediators in Pazardjik District. The DPCC elected the Public mediator of Pazardjik Nedelka Prejdarova as a chairperson. The next meeting of the newly established council will take place in the end of the month.

Panagyurishte Ombudsman election – it didn’t happen

The members of the Panagyurishte Municipal Council didn’t succeed to elect an Ombudsman at the first vote on Tuesday (October 25th). The local candidate – the journalist Tomi Naplatanov received 15 votes against 10 votes for Ivaylo Ivanov from Sofia – jurist. The hall, as always on such votes, was divided in right and left part, which had negative impact despite the fact that the vote was open. Two thirds, or 20 votes are necessary for the Ombudsman to be elected, according to the Regulations. The expectations and hopes of the Panagyurishte community are turned to the next session, when a second vote will be held. The Panagyurishte Ombudsman will be the second in Pazardjik District within the project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik Region”, if the local Municipal Council members agree on electing one of the candidates. (On the picture – Tomi Naplatanov presents his concept).

CAAC Coalition discussed the composition of the District Civil Council against Corruption

On a work meeting in the end of last week “Civil Activity against Corruption” discussed the proposed memberships for the District Civil Council against Corruption from Batak, Belovo, Bratsigovo, Rakitovo and Lesichovo. A decision was made that the Pazardjik member should be appointed after an inquiry among journalists. The structure of the District Council has to be publicly announced by the middle of the month. One of the suggestions is that members of the District Council should be the Ombudsman of Lesichovo Municipality, the Public mediator of Pazardjik Municipality and the Ombudsman of Panagyurishte Municipality who is to be elected by the end of this month.

The Regulation of the Public Mediator of Panagyurishte was passed

After continued@ researches the Municipal Council in Panagyurishte at its session on 2nd August passed the suggested Project of Regulation for the organization and the activity of Public mediator of Panagyurishte Municipality and opened the procedure for preliminary selection of candidates for this appointment. The municipal councilors passed to choice the Public mediator with open vote. Panagyurishte Municipality is the second one in Pazardjik region which starts this procedure in the framework of Regional Fund – IGA project “Anticorruption network in Pazardjik region” with the financial support of European Union’s Phare 2002 Development of Civil Society Program. Within the same project it was choused and it is working now the Public mediator of Lesichovo Municipality. (On the picture – A moment of work meeting with the Public mediator of Shumen Municipality in May).

Informational day in Kalugerovo

The last of the informational days within the project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik Region”, financially supported by the EU Phare Civil Society Development Program 2002, enjoyed high interest and activeness showed by the participants. The first euro-village Kalugerovo - the fifth place to stage such event, met the guests in the Center for Social Contacts. In the biggest community of Lesichovo Municipality the discussion was focused on the experience and the rights of the already elected Ombudsman of Lesichovo Municipality as well as on the future of the institution, the popular anti-corruption practices. People asked what is being done for prevention of corruption, and expressed their support for the establishment of the Regional Public Council against Corruption. Besides Maria Dimitrova and Nedelka Prejdarova - mediators of Lesichovo and Pazardjik, three representatives of the coalition “Civil Activity against Corruption” also took part in the event.

Mayors and members of the Municipal Council attend informational day in Belovo

Is there a need for Ombudsman of Belovo Municipality? This was the main topic of the discussion, which followed the lecture on the institution of the public mediator - essence, characteristic, legislative framework and activities, presented by the legal expert Dr. Konstantin Tanev within the last of the Information days organized by Regional Fund - IGA. Well acquainted with the theory and practice of the mediators, the participants focused on the following important question - could a Public mediator help citizens in their interaction with institutions. Most of the Municipal Council members and part of the Mayors were positive that the institution is necessary for citizens of Belovo Municipality and will be also useful for the administration. A more difficult question is the selection of the person for the job. At the end of the discussion the Municipal Council members expressed confidence that in a short time in their municipality will also start a procedure for election of a Public mediator.

In Bratzigovo also think about a Public mediator

The idea to begin a procedure for selection of Public mediator is not stranger also to the Bratzigovo municipality. The intention to gain experience from Batak municipality where the Regulation of the Public mediator is already accepted from Lesichovo municipality where the institution already is functioning, shared the chairman of the Municipal Council – Bratzigovo Gruycho Slavchev after the seminar is finished. The multiple questions and expressed opinions of the municipal councilors, administration servants, representatives of culture and educational institutions showed that the bright spirit of Bratzigovo is not only a mythology and in the forthcoming future the municipality maybe will boast with the next Public mediator in Pazardjik region.

The Informational days started

On 1st and 5th July in Batak and Rakitovo began the implementation of the Informational days for presenting of anticorruption models and popularization of the institution of local public mediator. With great interest was followed closely the lecture “The Institution Local Public Mediator in Bulgaria - essence, characteristic, legislative framework. Activity of the public mediator”. After the selection of the both mediators in Pazardjik region – Public mediator of Pazardjik and Public mediator of Lesichovo – the already working mediators participated in the informational forums. They presented their practice, shared their impressions and experience and also met with some of the candidates fro public mediators in other municipalities which Municipal councils already start with the selection of public mediator. About 50 participants – municipal councilors, servants in the municipal administrations, mayors and citizens attended at the Informational days of Regional Fund – IGA which are in the framework of the project “Anticorruption network in Pazardjik region” with the financial support of European Union by the PHARE 2002 Civil Society Development Program.

 Report for the media

The Public mediator of Pazardjik Municipality Nedelka Prejdarova and the Ombudsman of Lesichovo Municipality Maria Dimitrova presented their first reports to the media on a special press conference. After the Public mediator of Pazardjik was officially presented by “Civil Activity Against Corruption” Coalition on May 11th , she reported the first 4 cases and her activity for solving them. For the first time the Public mediator of Lesichovo Maria Dimitrova was presented to the media, after she was elected by the Lesichovo municipal council on April 29th this year. She has worked on 5 cases in Lesichovo so far. Beside these cases the two Public mediators have been working on verbal signals and have consulted citizens. They both expressed their content with the work so far as well as hope that the interest and the confidence of the citizens of the two municipalities will increase.

First report from the Public mediator

The first report of the Public mediator Nedelka Prejdarova was presented before the “Civil Activity Against Corruption” Coalition. She reviewed thoroughly her work to this moment and defined the tendencies and the specifications of the first cases, taken to her. She also answered to questions from members of the coalition that elected her on April 4th this year. Ideas and recommendations for the future work of the Public mediator were shared.

Honesty in politics

This is the topic of the public discussion, initiated by the Group for honest relations of “Philanthropy” Association and the Coalition “Civil activity against corruption”. Invitations for participation received all candidate-members of the Parliament from Pazardjik Electoral region, citizens of Pazardjik and the media. Among those who responded were representatives of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria and The New Time. Together with the Center for Mental Health “Chovekolubie” and members of “Civil activity against corruption” Coalition they defined their position not only on honest relations in the politics, but on the role of civil society in the establishment and maintenance of such relations. The meeting enjoyed great interest and activeness on the side of the participants. They expressed their satisfaction, and the candidate-members of Parliament promised to stand for honesty in politics and public life and also not to forget their promises. Coalition “Civil activity against corruption” has been established and maintains its activity as a part of Regional Fund - IGA’s project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik Region”.

Work meeting in Panagyurishte prepares the election of a Public mediator

In the assembly hall of the Municipal court - Panagyurishte on May 26th, a work meeting was held with the purpose of elaborating of Draft Regulations of the activity of the Public mediator. The election is a result of Regional Fund - IGA’s project “Anti-corruption network in Pazardjik Region” which started in the beginning of this year. The members of the Municipality council of Lesichovo already elected their Public mediator and the citizens of this small community became the first in Pazardjik Region to be offered the services of an ombudsman. During May in Pazardjik Municipality a Public mediator started working after being elected by coalition “Civil Activity against Corruption”. If the vote in Panagyurishte Municipality council is successful, Panagyurishte Municipality will be the second to institutionalize the ombudsman thanks to the project, financed by the EU Phare Program “Development of civil society.

Training Seminar for the Coalition Civil Activity Against Corruption

3 On 11th and 12th of May in Velingrad a training seminar for the Coalition "Civil Acivity Against Corruption" was delivered. ”. the organization was founded by project " Anti-corruption Network in the District of Pazardzhik" funded by the European Union Program DAR 2002"Civil Society Development".The purpose of the seminar was to increse the Coalitipon capacity for working on corruption issues. the training was conducted in two parts, as during the firs one anti-corruption models were presented by experts in thids field, and the second one- furthur Coalition activity was discussed: performing information days in the ten district municipalities; opening and operation of District Municipal Council and Coordination Office. Lecters in the seminar were Angel Stefanov- Public mediator of the Metropolitan municipality, Kiril Terziyski from the program"Access to Information" and Dragomira Paunova from the Democracy Research Center.

Ombudsman chosen in Lesichovo

On the 5th of May theØ municipal councilors of the municipality of Lesichovo chose a public mediator-first in the district of Pazardzhik. With a Decision No. 161 of the Municipal Council Session, held on 29.04.2005, Protocol No. 19 and on the ground of Art. 21 a, p. 1 from the Law for Local Self-government and Local Administration and Art. 71, p. 1 from the Regulations for Organization and Lesichovo Municipal Council Activity, Mariya Angelova Dimitrova was chosen as a first municipal public mediator.

 Coalition “Civil Activity Against Corruption” Press-conference

On 7th of AprilØ at “Info” café – Journalist` s club a press-conference was held, there was announced the establishment of Coalition of NGOs “Civil Activities Against Corruption” within the project” Anti-corruption Network in Pazardzhik District”, funded by FAR program –Civil Society Development.

13 Non-governmental Organizations Signed Agreement on Coalition Establishment

On 4th of April in the Industrial Economic Association assemblyØ Ø hall a second meeting of NGOs was held, where 13 organizations signed an Agreement for Coalition “Civil Activity Against Corruption” Establishment. In this agreement they declared the intention to set an effective civil control over the local authorities and stated their willingness to work together with all institutions, organizations and citizens, who share their ideas and goals of building up a community without corruption.