Индекс за възприятие на корупцията
Corruption Perceptions Index 2023: Bulgaria Continues to Face Challenges in Rule of Law and Institutional Reform
Bulgaria scored 45 points in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 67th globally and second to last among EU Member States. Hungary ranked last in the EU for the second consecutive year, with a score of 42.
The 2023 findings show that Bulgaria continues to face significant challenges in upholding the rule of law and addressing oligarchic influence. Although successive governments have introduced legislative reform programmes, parliamentary lawmaking has been characterised by two contrasting features: a high volume of legislative amendments and the poor quality of the laws adopted. Questions also remain about the effective implementation of these legislative changes. The Whistleblower Protection Act, adopted in 2023, is an example of flawed legislative practice and is unlikely to achieve its intended objectives.
Progress in introducing modern regulatory frameworks and economic incentives to combat bribery in the private sector and promote good governance standards remains slow. This also presents an obstacle to Bulgaria’s efforts to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The results of judicial reform remain limited in both scope and impact. Given the institutional inertia within the justice system, the effects of legislative and institutional changes will take time to materialise and will require sustained, consistent efforts.
Political instability has also hindered progress on institutional and legislative reform. Frequent parliamentary elections, periods of caretaker government and interruptions in legislative activity have contributed to delays in adopting and implementing key reforms.
Ognyan Minchev: Bulgaria Continues to Receive Similar Assessments Year After Year
Ognyan Minchev, Chair of the Board of Directors of Transparency International Bulgaria, expressed regret that the country continues to receive similar assessments year after year.
“The improvement in Bulgaria’s score at the beginning of the 21st century was clearly driven by the disciplining effect of the country’s accession to the European Union”. Minchev said.
“However, EU membership did not lead to genuine institutional modernisation or reform. The EU’s direct influence over national institutions has evidently reached its limits, and meaningful institutional reform and modernisation now depend on our own efforts.” he added.
“Furthermore, the momentum generated by the protests in 2013–2014 and 2020–2022 brought about political change, but it did not translate into institutional reforms,” concluded Mr Minchev.
Kalin Slavov: Good Governance and Corporate Integrity Must Become Priorities
Kalin Slavov, Executive Director of Transparency International Bulgaria, stressed the importance of good corporate governance and comprehensive anti-corruption reform.
“Adopting the highest standards and best practices in corporate governance should be a priority for both the government and the business community, particularly in view of Bulgaria’s accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).”
Slavov noted that Bulgaria’s anti-corruption efforts continue to lack a comprehensive vision and a coherent approach to reforming the mechanisms and processes designed to prevent and combat corruption.
“Unfortunately, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2021–2027 remains largely a document on paper. The new anti-corruption legislation, which merely restructured the Commission for Counteracting Corruption and the Confiscation of Illegally Acquired Property (KPKONPI) by splitting it into two bodies, has done little to demonstrate that structural changes alone can deliver positive results. A similar institutional arrangement existed in the past.”
He also pointed out that key legislative measures Bulgaria was expected to adopt, both in connection with its accession to the euro area and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, remain either unadopted or adopted in name only, without the substantive changes required to achieve their objectives.
According to Slavov, the anti-corruption agenda originally encompassed three major areas: criminal justice reform; the introduction of preventive approaches and measures to strengthen the private sector’s contribution to combating corruption, supported by appropriate economic incentives and regulatory frameworks; and changing public attitudes through education.
“These reforms are not taking place. This poses a major challenge. Businesses must operate transparently and ethically and adopt systems to identify, assess and mitigate corruption risks, protect whistleblowers and comply with regulations governing lobbying and interest representation.”
“These are regulatory requirements, and if the government fails to support Bulgarian businesses in implementing them, the country risks facing serious economic consequences and losing its competitive edge. This could restrict opportunities for Bulgarian companies to work with foreign businesses operating in Bulgaria, jeopardise established partnerships and result in the loss of markets.”
Slavov further emphasised that the measures presented as progress in the fight against corruption have largely remained on paper.
“Restructuring institutions, in itself, does not produce tangible results.”
Check out the full Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 results at Transparency International website.
