2.76 Yambol 2023, Инвестиционен анализ

The local business has good opportunities for carrying out its economic activity.

The mayor and his team use the control mechanisms over public service providers related to the execution of contracts for municipal projects, including through public procurement. Local business is consulted periodically when adopting new regulations or amending existing rules regarding economic activity. In this regard, a need to ensure greater transparency of the consultative process has been identified. Regarding the inspections by the control units of the municipality, assessments of the business have been established, which raise questions regarding the application of an equal approach to individual companies and the substantive implementation of ethical norms for conflict of interest by the local government team.

The municipal administration offers a good quality of administrative services, including demonstrating progress in expanding the range of electronic services provided. In general, it provides access to information – discussed documents, reports on the disposal of municipal properties, registers of municipal enterprises and reports on their activities. Gaps are found in the provision of access to the register of construction permits, as well as in the publication of annual reports on the administration’s activities. Although there is no specialised unit involved in the investment process, there are documents (plans, reports and discussions in the Municipal Council) from the period 2021 regarding measures taken to promote investments through participation in a project for the development of an investment destination “Sliven – Yambol – Tundzha “.

The website of the municipality provides well-structured information about the activities of the business, with numerous references to other information units. The site is organised in such a way as to allow convenient access to sought-after information from several different locations. On the main page, an “About the business” section has been created, which includes links to “Administrative services”, with detailed information about services, with references to “Territory planning and construction”, “Administrative service centre”, “Clerical inquiries” and “Public records”. The regulations on economic activity are published in an accessible place. Although there is no specialised section on investments, information on the subject can be found – useful information on the characteristics of the municipality, Ordinance on the promotion of investments, notifications on investment proposals have been published. The unit responsible for the investment process is the Directorate of “Municipal Property and Economic Activities”.

The municipal council seeks to exercise control over the local executive. The standing committees ensure a good level of transparency regarding their work, which is a prerequisite for the participation of interested parties in the process of discussing normative documents and regulations, including those concerning economic activity in the municipality. Municipal councillors strive to maintain contact with their constituents by organizing receptions and holding periodic meetings with them. In addition, the study found that they failed to build an effective mechanism to prevent and identify conflicts of interest and generally neglected the topic of ethical standards in their work.

Local businesses have relatively good conditions for carrying out their activities. Local authorities implement key policy elements to ease the conditions for starting and running a business, as well as for investment in the area. It has been established by business assessments that the control units of the municipality apply a selective approach to the companies. Local businesses and business associations have a proven track record of asserting their positions.

The structures of civil society (media and civil organisations) have a certain contribution to the implementation of public control over institutions. Although a small part of the media maintains an interest in the topic of corruption prevention and good governance, they work freely and do not encounter difficulties in accessing information about the activities of the institutions. There are examples of active civil society organizations seeking information and accountability from local authorities.