Background

Due to its special statute defined by legislation, local municipal administration creates a monopol over administrative services provided to citizens. For this reason the citizen as a client does not have the right to choose where to obtain these services. By expanding its information services, the Municipality of Varna aims to regulate this monopol through providing information in a way which gives citizens a clear picture of its services and some control over the way they could acquire them. Preliminary information about projects connected with municipal property, included in the Municipal Council agenda, and their public discussion allows citizens to have direct influence over the Council s decisions. Through accurate public announcement of the ways and terms involved, much time is saved and unnecessary questions are avoided.

Practice

The basic components of the project whose inplementation started in November 1999, are:

creating an Internet page as part of the Municipality web site www.varna.bg, including the publication of
information about services in the area of municipal property and ways to obtain them;
regulation documents, tariffs, charges, rents;
a notice board for announcing free lots, expiring contracts, biddings, competitions, municipal ordinances, concessions;
results form bids and competitions;
a system for monitoring site visits and processing of the information and the visitors opinions.

creating a system for describing and providing services, regulation documents, board for notices, competitions, concessions, results from biddings, to be published in the Internet.

publishing results and dissemination of information among citizens through use of alternative routes and independent surveys, a handbook of algorythms and ways of processing requests;

conducting seminars and publishing bulletins;

building alternative channels of information, aimed at facilitating the objective coverage of the activity of the Municipal Council and local administration;

creating direct citizens control over the provision of services, supervision of the implementation of the Muncipal Council decisions and ensuring openness and transparency of the administration activity.

In the process of implementation, problems arise due to the significant dependence on central authorities and the unstable legislative framework, as well as the controversy over the ownership of some properties. Also, decisions of regional institutions are highly dependent on central ones, in cases when the Municipality proposes ways of unifying the information. There is a clearly demonstrated instability in legislation in terms of territorial and regional division. Information is gradually increased, assisting citizens in their economic activity. A new effective way of providing services to citizens and firms is being created, which constitutes a step closer to European structures in the sphere of local government and administrative functions. The level of citizen interest in the decisions of the Municipal Council rises, as well as the responsibility of the councillors for taking decisions based on public discussions.

Results

The project helps enhance direct citizens participation in decision making with respect to municipal property management. The Municipality opens to the citizens opinions and proposals.
A system of communication between NGOs and municipal structures is created, to facilitate the process of decision making (NGOs act as the mediator in the dialogue between citizens and municipality).
The control of voters on their elected representative strengthens.
Transparency is created in decision making, discussions of important projects or approving fees and rents.
The transparency in the activity of the local adminsitration and the Municipal Council, achieved through the project, leads to increase in the trust towards local government.