2.48 Smolyan 2023, Инвестиционен анализ

The geographical characteristics of the region imply specialisation of the economic activity in the municipality and a more limited range of opportunities for the implementation of business initiatives. In the past year, local authorities have taken measures to improve the environment, but there is still a need to intensify their work in two directions: attracting financial resources, including investments in promising sectors; and improving dialogue with local business and civil society structures.

The municipal administration is making progress in the provision of administrative services by expanding the number of e-servants. Given the geographical features of the municipality – the dispersion of individual settlements, opportunities are provided for remote inquiries about the movement of files. A certified document flow and activity management system has been built, which includes the definition of goals in relation to the functioning of the administration and reports on the performed activity. The administration strives to maintain a feedback relationship with citizens by conducting citizen surveys and publishing their results. Certain deficits are found regarding the transparency of the consultation process, which are expressed in an insufficient level of transparency regarding the conditions for providing opinions in connection with public consultations. In this regard, it should be noted that business and civil society structures also demonstrate a passive approach. Actions have been taken over the past year to provide more transparency about existing registries.

The mayor and his team have taken measures to ensure transparency regarding the procedures for selecting external contractors for municipal activities. The control units operate under clear criteria, and there is no evidence of applying an unequal approach. There are no cases of unethical behaviour among the management team of the municipality. Insufficiently active activities to attract additional resources in the municipal budget by initiating projects and attracting investments are outlined as deficits. Deficits have been registered regarding accountability and dialogue with citizens and local businesses in the development of policies for the development of the municipality and the rules for regulating economic activity.

The municipal council has a good public image. The research shows that additional efforts are needed to ensure the transparency of the rules for the participation of citizens and businesses in the discussion of changes in the regulatory framework and development strategies of the municipality.

The website of the municipality is aimed more at the citizens of the municipality and the users of tourist services in the area. The site does not support a section with specialised and detailed information about the business. Useful information is published on the tourism sector (section Tourism is available on the left, below, subsection section – Documents for download). Access to sections “Administrative services”, “Public procurement”, “Registers”, “Announcements and contests” etc. is provided. The site does not provide information about investment opportunities. In the section reflecting the activities of the Municipal Council, decisions are published, including the Ordinance on Investments.

The available data and the way of structuring the information on the website of the municipality bring to light the need to create a new website to provide citizens and businesses with adequate access to information.

Local business ranks one of the last places in the sector ranking. Local companies and business organisations are not active in developing and asserting opinions regarding the rules for economic activity and policies for the development of the municipality. There are separate elements of municipal policy to ease the conditions for starting a business. In this regard, an Ordinance was created for attracting and promoting investments of municipal significance in the municipality of Smolyan, so interested companies can access the document and the application forms through the municipality’s website.

Civil society structures (media and civil organisations) have a modest contribution to public control of institutions. With few exceptions, they are characterised by passivity in the use of tools for accessing public information about the management and monitoring of the activities of local authorities.