ANTICORRP Background paper on Bulgaria

Author(s): Alexander Stoyanov,Ruslan Stefanov,Boryana Velcheva / Language(s): English

The Worldwide Governance Indicators show that Bulgaria has made significant progress in the area of “control of corruption” since 1996. This finding contrasts with the general opinion of the Bulgarian population who perceive Bulgarian institutions as corrupt, and contradicts the decision of the European Commission to continue monitoring Bulgaria’s progress in fighting corruption and organized crime. Hence, there is a need for careful consideration and analysis to understand how much progress Bulgaria has really made in the fight against corruption. Can Bulgaria be considered an anti-corruption success story? This paper seeks to answer the above questions by providing a background analysis on Bulgaria’s governance regime. According to research, Bulgaria has made some progress in its transition from patrimonialism to open access order but the main features of its governance regime remain these of competitive particularism. In legal terms Bulgaria displays some open access order features but they do not translate into practical implementation.

Media Note: Energy Saving Technologies in the Bulgarian Residential Sector

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The growing consumer prices of electricity have remained at the center of public debates over the past months, especially following their increase last year by 13%. Even though the regulated market supresses their growth, prices have steadily increased since 2005, both in Bulgaria and in the EU. In Bulgaria, the liberalization will most likely cause an additional short-term increase in consumer prices, before open competition exerts enough pressure on the market to perform better and eventually bring prices down. In the context of these developments, measures aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings are becoming increasingly popular.

Зелено чудовище бърка в джоба на потребителите: дали? Медийна записка

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

The energy sector in Bulgaria is faced with a number of challenges, the biggest of which is poor governance. Abuses triggered by the poor management of state-owned enterprises have an impact on electricity prices for consumers. As long as the governance of state-owned enterprises remains non-transparent and pricing mechanisms remain opaque, consumer confidence in the system cannot be restored.

Corruption Assessment Report 1999

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Limiting corruption in Bulgarian society calls not only for institutional and legal measures but also for establishing the rule of law. In this sense, it is of crucial importance to foster a political and economic culture based on trust and respect for public institutions, on transparency and openness in the actions of public administration, and the will to achieve stability and predictability of the economic and social environment. Coalition 2000 is an initiative of Bulgarian non-governmental organizations which was launched in the Spring of 1997 aimed at limiting corruption in Bulgarian society through a partnership between state institutions, non-governmental organizations, and individual personalities, who developed and have been implementing an Anti-Corruption Action Plan, Corruption Monitoring System, and an anti-corruption public awareness campaign. The Corruption Assessment Report 1999 follows the structure and approach of the Action Plan adopted by the Policy Forum of Coalition 2000 in November 1998. It presents a general evaluation of the state and dynamic of corruption in Bulgarian society and of the efforts to counteract it in 1999.

Price Reform and Pricing in the Transition to Market Economy, August 1994

Author(s): Vesselin Passev / Language(s): English

As a result of factors, characteristic of centralized planned economy and particularly pronounced in Bulgaria due to the lack of a significant private sector as had been preserved in Poland, Hungary, GDR, and Czechoslovakia, the economic reform in Bulgaria began with a liberalization of prices and dismantling of the monopolistic structures in industry and the services. The shock liberalization of prices was the only way to a speedy overcoming of the huge disproportion between the supply and demand. It is our view that if the liberalization of prices had begun already in the first year of the reform - 1990, their rise might have been more moderate and would not have had such a strong negative impact on the standard of living of the population. Unfortunately, the liberalization of 40 per cent of the prices of goods and services included in the government's program was not introduced and that for purely political reasons, as the government of the ruling Communist Party was driven by populist considerations. In February 1991 the first government with the participation of ministers from outside the Communist Party undertook a liberalization of about 80 per cent of the prices of goods and services. Within a month following the liberalization of prices, inflation, measured through the consumer price index, reached 222.9 per cent. Only a group of 14 essential goods and services, among which fuels and electric power, as well as certain staple foods, remained under state control.

Postprivatization Behavior of Enterprises in Bulgaria, 1994

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The Insurance Market in Bulgaria, September 2004

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

At the end of august 2004, the second consecutive survey was conducted to study and assess the insurance market and services in Bulgaria in one year period. The survey was representative of the country’s adult population. The size of the two-stage cluster sample was N=1000 covering the whole territory of the country. Information was collected by the method of the face-to-face in-home interview.

THE HIDDEN ECONOMY IN BULGARIA (General Population), December 2002

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The main goal of the research project outlined in the present paper is to initiate systematic monitoring of the size and dynamics of the hidden economy in Bulgaria (HEM). The project envisions conducting a series of representative surveys of the country's adult population and of the business sector at three-month intervals. This will make it possible not only to examine the dynamics of the problem, but also to collect reliable information about the differences in the attitudes of the general population and the business community to the manifestations and reasons for the development of the hidden economy in this country.

Корупционни индекси на Коалиция 2000, Януари 2003

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

Between January 22, 2003 and March 3, 2003, Vitosha Research conducted its survey concerning the corruption among the population in Bulgaria. The study is part of Coalition 2000's Corruption Monitoring System (CMS).

Корупционни индекси на Коалиция 2000, Ноември 2001

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

In the period 04.10.2001 г. - 20.10.2001, Vitosha Research conducted its survey concerning the corruption among the population in Bulgaria. The study is part of Coalition 2000's Corruption Monitoring System.

Корупционни индекси на Коалиция 2000, Март 1999

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

In the period 06.02.1999-20.02.1999, Vitosha Research conducted its survey concerning the corruption among the population in Bulgaria. The study is part of Coalition 2000's Corruption Monitoring System.

Employment: Progress with EU Approximation in Macedonia

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

This report focuses on two aspects of EU approximation in the area of employment: the first section identifies the key reasons behind the problems encountered with approximation to EU standards in this field, while the following section looks into potential measures and policy solutions that can be undertaken in order to achieve greater progress with EU approximation. The ultimate aim is to get a sense of progress achieved in the area as a case for evaluating the country’s achievements in EU approximation. Considering recent debates about Macedonian progress towards EU integration acquired an emotional overtone as the ‘name dispute’ with Greece became more heated since the beginning of this year. In this light, this is also an effort to bring the debate back to rational and pragmatic terms and assess the effects that government measures have on the lives of ordinary citizens.

Renewable Energy in Macedonia – Focus on ‘Green’ Electricity Production

Author(s): Nataša Hroneska / Language(s): English

In future, beside the level of energy consumption as a parameter for the economic growth of a country, the capacity and capability for introducing renewable energies will become an important criterion for the level of the sustainable development of the countries. At the end of September 2008 the International Energy Agency (IEA) has called for a major boost in renewable energy use, estimating that until the middle of the century nearly 50 percent of global electricity supplies will have to come from renewable energy sources. These ambitious objectives require government action for unprecedented political commitment and effective policy design and implementation. As a part of the overall EU energy policy for energy mix achieving the objectives of security of supply, competitiveness and sustainable development, in the last decade the countries of the European Union have strategically moved towards promotion of energy production from renewable energy sources. The major achievement in the area of renewable energies has been the introducement of the renewable energy sources for electricity production in EU. Starting with the White Paper on Renewable Energy almost a decade ago, the member states have set binding targets for renewable energy. This policy mechanism has allowed for an increased market penetration of electricity produced from renewable energy sources and since then the promotion of electricity produced from RES is a high Community priority, ambitiously targeting the 22 percent of electricity produced from renewables until 2010.

Investments in Energy – The Macedonian Case

Author(s): Nataša Hroneska / Language(s): English

Since independence at the beginning of 1990s and especially in the last several years, the most important issue to the development of the energy sector in Macedonia has been the lack of a substantial and sustainable investment model. This in turn has been reflected in the modest number of new energy capacities in the country. Most of Macedonia’s existing energy infrastructure was developed during the second half of the last century. The consequence of this investment stagnation, especially after the breakout from Yugoslavia, is a weak energy sector, overwhelmingly dependent on imports and uncompetitive in the regional energy market. Foreign investors come and go from the country. Facing different legal and administrative barriers few decide to invest, leaving many strategically important energy projects for Macedonia to wait for ‘better days’. In addition, both wholesale and individual consumers have experienced hardships in their businesses and everyday life, faced with poor energy supply, low quality transmission and distribution systems, combined with energy shortages and inefficient energy management. New capacities have been developed in the last two decades, but they are not enough to satisfy the increase in energy demand, or strengthen the energy position of Macedonia within Southeast European region.

№253. Spanish Constitutional Reform

Author(s): José M. Abad,Javier Hernández Galante / Language(s): English

On September 7th, five weeks after the European Central Bank (ECB) started buying Spanish bonds as part of its Securities Market Programme, and four weeks since Merkel and Sarkozy announced their proposal of writing debt limits into national laws, the Spanish Parliament has approved a constitutional reform that, by constraining the general government’s spending and borrowing capacity, aims to mitigate concerns over public finances. This reform, the second since the current Constitution was enacted by referendum in 1978, has been made possible by an agreement between the ruling socialists (PSOE) and the main opposition party (conservative PP).

№257. Speculative Attacks within or outside a Monetary Union: Default versus Inflation (what to do today)

Author(s): Daniel Gros / Language(s): English

Is a high level of public debt inherently more dangerous within a monetary union? During the1990s it was often argued that only by entering the EMU could Italy (or Spain) protect itself from the high interest rates it had to pay on its large public debt. The argument was that by joining the single currency, Italy could convince financial markets that it would not inflate away the value of its debt and hence benefit from lower risk premia.

Trading Values with Kazakhstan

Author(s): Tika Tsertsvadze,Vera Axyonova / Language(s): English

The European Union (EU) and Kazakhstan have become important partners over the past decade. The EU is Kazakhstan’s leading trade partner, accounting for 40 per cent of its exports. At the same time, Kazakhstan contributes to meeting the EU’s oil and uranium demand and Europe is increasingly interested in the country’s extensive natural resources. Growing economic and political ties have brought EU-Kazakhstan relations to a new level that seems to surpass the current bilateral agreement and the overarching (regional) engagement through the EU Strategy for Central Asia. In 2011, negotiations began over a new and enhanced agreement to replace the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Despite substantial initial progress, recently talks have slowed down. Kazakhstan’s interest seems to be declining and differences are mounting over two key issues: technical and regulatory aspects related to trade and investment, and a clearer commitment and results by Astana towards democratic reform.

Uncharted Waters: Presidential Successions in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Author(s): Jos Boonstra,Marlène Laruelle / Language(s): English

Popular legend holds that the 18th century French King, Louis XV, claimed that after his death everything would fall apart (après moi, le déluge). To outsiders, a similar uncertainty surrounds Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to some extent, because they are both led by presidents that have been in power since 1989, even before their respective countries became independent in 1991. Nursultan Nazarbayev (74) of Kazakhstan and Islam Karimov (77) of Uzbekistan have established and maintained a firm grip on their countries, but have not indicated who might succeed them in the future. Both states are authoritarian and seek regional leadership. Kazakhstan is renowned for its natural resource-driven economic growth and international flair, and is often seen as the region’s economic engine. Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia and has a strong security sector compared to neighbours that includes relatively capable armed forces and an influential intelligence community.

Is Kazakhstan’s Rising Star Fading?

Author(s): Marlène Laruelle / Language(s): English

Kazakhstan’s economic prosperity and active foreign policy have given it increasing regional power status. Kazakhstan has stood out internationally as a mediator in conflicts, chair of international fora and partner to key international actors, but its ‘golden decade’ of economic growth has ended. The country faced a serious economic crisis in 2014, and registered only slightly over 1 per cent GDP growth in 2015 and 2016. Even though growth improved to approximately 3.5 per cent in 2017, due to higher oil prices and production, figures are likely to remain lower than pre-2014. In January 2017, at the initiative of ageing President Nursultan Nazarbayev, parliament approved constitutional reforms to strengthen its role, including the transfer of some presidential functions, in an effort to decentralise power.

Uzbekistan opening up

Author(s): Jos Boonstra,Andreas Marazis,Peter Burian,Alisher Ilkhamov,Alisher Siddique,Zaynab Dost,Sevara Khamidova,Diana Mamatova,Sergey Marinin,Nushofarin Noziri / Language(s): English

Uzbekistan has begun to take steps towards openness, and economic and political reform. Since the death of President Islam Karimov in September 2016 and the parliamentary appointment of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the new President of the Republic, Uzbekistan has improved relations with its neighbours and started a process of internal reform. Despite these positive signs, it is still too early to estimate the extent of Uzbekistan’s political transformation over the coming years.