September 11, 2009

The National Assembly adopted September 11, 2009 amendments to the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act. They provide identity documents of Bulgarian citizens to be issued on an electronic information medium with the biometric personal data stored on it, if technical capabilities would be available, and for a name change of the law itself to make it shorter.The word “documents” is to be replaced with "papers". The bill proposes a differentiation of the types of documents by their purpose - identity / identity card, passport, refugee card /and others, such as driving licenses, residence documents.

The law proposes a fine of between BGN 30 and 200, in case of lost, damaged or destroyed Bulgarian personal document. The same fine applies when a loss, theft, damage or destruction of a Bulgarian identity document is not reported within three days or even though it was declared, the document continues to be in use. The bill further regulates the procedure for issuing identity cards to children over 14 years of age, residing in social institutions, who have no parents or a guardian and can not obtain automatically an ID card.

Parliament approved the Ombudsman's Annual report for 2008. The document points to the lack of sufficient transparency and accountability in the acts of the authorities. The total number of complaints and signals received in the Ombudsman’s office up to December 31, 2008 is 8836.In 87 percent of these, checks were held and completed. Compared to 2007, the number of complaints has increased by 30 percent. Most citizens complain about issues related to ownership rights and problems arising under the Spatial Development Act/ 23 percent /, reported Ginio Ganev. Secondly, most complaints concern the services sector /19 percent/, and on a third place the report reveals - social services / 11 percent /.
The Ombudsman's report entitled "Justice is the soul of a good administration" raises sharp and troubling questions,requiring prompt actions on the side of the legislative and executive branches. He emphasized on the issue of decentralization and local government, giving as an example the lack of civilian control over local taxes and fees. We need competent and reliable administration with a human face, said Ginio Ganev.

During the time for parliamentary control, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov answered the question of MP Lachezar Toshev what were the policies and intentions of the Government related to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, contained in Resolution 1211/2000 as far as meeting the obligations and commitments of Bulgaria. He also answered a question, wended by MPs Ivan Kostov and Martin Dimitrov, on what were the government plans to repair the damage inflicted to the country by the former Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Tsvetan Tsvetanov answered a question of Ognian Tetimov related to the police inaction and non-observance of the Public Order Act in the town of Petrich.

Defense Minister Nikolay Mladenov answered a question by MP Evgeni Zhelev on the current status of the military firing ground at Zmeyovo village.

Miroslav Naydenov, Minister of Agriculture and Food, answered questions from Penko Atanasov regarding the direct payments disbursements for cultivated area and the national-payments to farmers and the excise duty refund on fuel for farmers.