Evaluation of National Integrity System in Bulgaria - 2011

The results of the study outline four different groups of institutions:

• the best scoring institutions are the State Audit Office (State Audit Institution) and the Ombudsman, whose overall scores are around the mark of 60;
• the second large group of institutions and sectors including the executive, the public sector, the judiciary, the legislature, and the civil society organizations, which score slightly over the 50 mark;
• the third group includes the political parties, the law enforcement agencies, and the media, which all receive results slightly above 45;
• the bottom fourth group includes the electoral commission, anticorruption agency and business sector with scores around 40.

The study shows that throughout the last decade substantial financial resources have been invested in efforts to strengthen the capacity and integrity of public institutions. The same is also evident from their high scores with regard to their capacity. In this context, the main message of the study is that the provided resources and sufficient institutional capacity could have achieved better overall results. Despite this fact, the level of public expenditures does not correspond to the integrity scores and anti-corruption results. With respect to these conclusions, the institutions should adopt more active measures for improving the efficiency of the provided resources and achieving more visible results in the fight against corruption.

One of the main problems pointed out in the study is the systemic inconsistency between the scores of the juridical framework in the fight against corruption and its practical implementation. This inconsistency draws to the forefront the need to enhance the judicial framework with adequate policies and practices in the functioning of the institutions. Not all actions can be dictated by law – in cases of executive authority, officials should make an adequate judgment and aim to achieve optimal results in the name of public interest.

The detailed study enabled the research team to elaborate recommendations aimed at overcoming key deficiencies in each one of the thirteen pillars. The general recommendations in all sectors pertain to:

• better efficiency in the use of resources;
• increasing transparency in procedures of work appointments on key positions;
• development of mechanisms for accountability and transparency.

Transparency International - Bulgaria’s crucial recommendation would be the elaboration of a set of measures for the effective implementation of legislation in the practical work of the institutions.