23 April 2008, Wednesday

The Bulgarian Parliament approved Wednesday the law for the creation of a Bulgarian Development Bank. The purpose of the Bank is to improve, stimulate and develop the total economic, exports and technological potential of the small and medium size businesses enhancing their access to funding. The basic activities of the Development Bank will be landing pre export and export credits for small and medium size businesses and financing through share holding in their capital by means of the Capital Fund. The bank will refinance other Bulgarian and foreign landing institutions providing credits for small and medium size enterprises and as well as to buyers of their goods and services. It will also manage EU funds. The Bank will also finance investments in small and medium size enterprises outside the country. The bank’s capital will consist of its shareholders capital , public offering of bonds, credits from local, foreign and international financial institutions and funds from the European Union.
Parliamentary members passed the amendments to the Ministry of Interior Act. The changes provide for one year extension the term of duty for now working police investigators without lawyer’s education to be able to continue their criminal investigations.
National Assembly approved on first reading the amendments to the Narcotic Substances and Precursors Control Act related to the operations of the State Agency “National Security”. It provides for the Agency to cooperate with specialized international institutions in the field of narcotics and with counterpart agencies in other countries. With the help of its specialized departments and the State Agency for National Security the Ministry of Interior will prevent, fight against and reveal crimes related to illegal trafficking of narcotics and precursors.

The national assembly extended the term of office of the Ad-hoc inquiry Committee for investigation of the tragic event on the train Sofia – Kardam, and for the review of the railway transport safety regulations in the country.

MPs discussed and approved on first reading amendments to the Fodders Act. It introduces procedures setting up the responsibilities for fodders import, labeling and trade control .

Parliament ratified:

- the Geneva Act of July 2, 1999 of the Hague Agreement concerning the International Registration of Industrial Design;
- the Extradition Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the United States of America and the Agreement on Certain Aspects of Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the United States of America;
- the Protocol on amendment and supplementation to the Investments Encouragement and Protection Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Republic of India.

On its Thursday, April 24, 2008 sitting the National assembly will debate and vote on the Draft resolution for structural and personnel changes in the Council of Ministers.