The existing social and economic conditions, and the overall trends towards European models and values require new quality behaviour of municipalities being structures of significant importance related with development of territories of different economic, geographic and demographic potential .

It is doubtless that achieving economic growth requires well - functioning administrative structure , effectively working in correspondence with all socially responsible bodies , in close cooperation with local business .

These complex relations are impeded by the limited municipal budget , the high level of unemployment and lack of functioning economic factors . This would require in - depth analysis of the situation and development of new, partnership - oriented strategies for local economic development .

The general opinion of business representatives that the linkage between them and governing bodies is missing is fact. This creates contradictable relationships, which lead to negative results .

This was the main reason to perform in - depth analysis and to discuss all functioning mechanisms for improving cooperation between local authorities and local business .

In the beginning of mandate 1999-2003 analysis on the level of citizens participation in the government of Montana Municipality was carried out in order to be further used as an instrument in promoting local government policies . The team that performed the analysis determined the fact that great part of the people was not only unsatisfied of local government s actions, but they do not even expect to be heard . This imposed effective measures aiming at changing the adjustment and introducing active forms of transparency , thus establishing a useful dialogue between the authority and various social groups .

After filling up the questionnaire on the level of transparency in the work of municipalities , the governmental body of Vratsa Municipality considered that implementing transparency principles in the work of the municipal administration and the municipal council would increase the confidence of citizens and partners in the local authority .

Two working groups ( comprising of municipal councilors and experts from the municipal administration ) analyzed the results from the questionnaire . As a consequence the municipal council and municipal administration organized for the first time public discussion on the budget and project on tourism development in the municipality .

Municipality City of Dobrich is the first Bulgarian municipality which in the beginning of mandate 2003 2007 introduced the practice of using multimedia presentation of graphic images ( plans of regulated terrains, extracts of general and other plans, recommendations for amendments, extracts from the city map, tables, charts, pictures, etc.) during sessions of the municipal council, as appendixes within the package of documentation , submitted to municipal councilors, thus providing support to the decision-making process .

Supporting the principle Municipality to People , as an expression of openness towards the community and sympathy towards citizens and business problems . External receptions have started to be organized by the mayor . These are performed by districts in the municipality (municipality City of Dobrich encompasses the territory of the city there are no mayoralties). Thus out of the working environment access to the mayor Detelina Nikolova for large number of citizens close to their resident place has been provided .

Municipality City of Dobrich was involved informally in the transparency campaign for local authorities aiming at proving and further developing positions, achieving obvious results and implementing new approaches and ideas, performing open and transparent government through provision of interaction between optimally functioning modern administration and cooperating citizens partners in the atmosphere of mutual confidence .

The beginning of the Campaign introduced discussion on the approach at a meeting with the Mayor , establishment and session of a Working group on the Questionnaire of self - assessment and identifying new ideas and suggestions , resource work , with councilors and NGOs , dissemination of the Transparency poster , etc . The results should be obvious after implementing the general management practice and outlined steps and actions within the Campaign .

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In February 2004 a team of four representatives of the muniicpal council and 5 representatives of the municipal amdinistration Mezdra worked on a Self-Assessment Questionnaire referring to the level of transparency and openness in the work of Mezdra Municipality . After an analysis of the results we realized that 73% of the proposed procedures and practices mentioned in the Questionnaire are implemented in our municipality . The officials from the municipal administration and municipal councilors were acquainted with the questionnaire . The filled in questionnaire was prepared in a special brochure , which was made available for all citizens in the Customer Service Center and was uploaded on the web - site of Mezdra Municipality : www . mezdra . dir . bg