The initiative is carried out in the framework of TI-Bulgaria project, financed by the Integrity Initiative program of the World Bank and Siemens. The program commenced on 2 July 2009, and aims to provide support to projects and organizations around the globe, working in the field of corruption prevention and counteraction in different areas of social and economic life.

 

On 23 March 2012 Transparency International-Bulgaria organized a forum on the subject: “Integrity Pact in Public Procurement: New Approach for Corruption Prevention in Bulgaria”.

 

TI-Bulgaria presented the Bulgarian model of Integrity Pact in public procurement, which is an innovative instrument for supporting the public institutions and business sector in the fight against corruption in public procurement procedures.

 

Among the participants in the panel discussion were representatives of business organizations from the country and institutions with control functions in the area of public procurement.

 

The participants had the opportunity to express their expert opinions and assessments of the problems in the sphere of public procurement, and also were able to discuss the possible approaches towards their solution.

 

According to representatives of the business, there are serious deficits in place not only in the legislature on public procurement, but also in its implementation. The many amendments in the Public Procurement Law do not introduce clearer and more easily applicable rules in this area, and moreover they also create additional hindrances to the business sector related to the frequently changing procedures. In this regard, it was noticed hat specific and clearly defined provisons are needed, that would work effectively and would create stable business environment.

 

Business representatives defined as most important the lack of transparency of procedure and rules regulating accounatbility in public procurement expenditures.

 

In this regard, the business representatives expressed their support for the initiative of Transparency International-Bulgaria by sharing their positive assessments of the Integrity Pact as an innovative instrument, which can assist the implementation of contemporary standards for integrity and transparency in procurement contracts of significant public interest. The forum participants shared their willingness to support anticorruption initiatives that could help improve transparency in public funds management and promote free and loyal competition.