The parliament adopted at first reading a 15 percent reduction of the party subsidy for 2010

June 10, 2010

At its sitting held on June 10, 2010 the National Assembly adopted at first reading amendments to the Political Parties Act envisaging a 15 percent reduction of the 2010 state subsidy for parties and coalitions. The amendments were supported by 85 M.P.s, 12 M.P.s abstained and not a single vote was cast against. The funds allocated by the 2010 state budget for subsidizing political parties and coalitions amount to BGN 50.7 million. The savings as a result of the reduction are estimated at BGN 7.5 million. By virtue of this measure the political parties and coalitions shall equally share the burden of the financial crisis with the rest of physical and legal entities in the country, reads the argumentation of the motion’s initiator, the Council of Ministers.

Earlier today the M.P.s adopted a Declaration on the UN Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of Specialized Agencies and its application to the World Tourist Organization.

The M.P.s approved a Council of Ministers proposal for opening of European Polytechnic University in the town of Pernik. The University shall be a private one. The students who graduate from it shall be awarded "Bachelor’s" or "Master’s " degree. They shall also be granted the right to defend Doctor’s dissertation in compliance with the requirements of the Higher Education Act. The form of tutoring shall be regular, held in both Bulgarian and English language. The majors offered by the University are Informatics, Computer Science, Communication Technologies, Architecture, Construction and Geodesy.

The Parliament adopted a proposal to repeal the zero excise duty rate for the biodiesel used as a heating product upon first reading of the amendments to the Excise Duties and Tax Warehouse Act. The draft bill was elaborated in implementation of the Council of Ministers decision of April 1, 2010 approving measures in support of employment, households, business and the Fisk. Those were some of the grounds of the motion’s initiator. According to the current provisions of the Excise Duties and Tax Warehouse Act, blending biofuels and diesels is defined as a manufacturing process. A definition of energy products' manufacturing is added in compliance with the EU energy and energy products tax legislation. Blending of energy products with paid excise duty shall be considered manufacturing of energy products only when the size of excise duty on the product resulting from the process of blending exceeds the sum of excise duties paid separately for the two blended products.

The draft bill repeals the time-frame for realization of excise goods with attached excise duty label bought at a canceled excise rate when new excise duty rates are introduced. A proposal envisages repeal of the provisions for reimbursement of excise duty paid on cigarettes that have not been sold in the market within the legally fixed terms the reason for that being the administrative difficulties posed to the customs administration as well as the conflicts with business.

The Parliament approved at first reading to size down to five persons the composition of the Commission for Protection of Competition, as per adopted amendments to the Law on the Protection of Competition. The Commission shall have a Chair, a Deputy Chair and three members each with a 5-year term in office. At present the Commission has two deputy chairs while its chair has a 6-year term. The Commission’s members shall be elected by the National Assembly within one month after the amendments’ entering into force.