site.btaGovernment Adopts New Rules of Organisation and Operation Reflecting Structural Changes

Government Adopts New Rules of Organisation and Operation Reflecting Structural Changes

Sofia, January 30 (BTA) - The caretaker Government Monday adopted revisions to the Rules of Organisation and Operation of the Council of Ministers reflecting its structural changes, the cabinet's information service said. These are mainly relevant to the deputy PM positions.

According to the structure of the caretaker Government, the Minister of Health is also Deputy PM of Social Policy and the Minister of Defence is also a Deputy PM of Interior and Security. There is a new position of Deputy PM responsible for the preparation of Bulgaria's chairmanship of the Council of the EU in 2018. This Deputy PM, as well as the Deputy PM of European Funds will be without portfolios and will be assisted in performing their functions by directorate in the specialized administration of the Council of Ministers.

The positions at the disposal of the Prime Minister and the Deputy PMs for their political cabinets have also been determined. Their number in the PM cabinet is now 16. The councilors, experts and technical assistants who will assist the deputy PMs of social policy and interior will be three each, while the two deputy PMs who do not head ministries will have ten-member cabinets.

The Government also designated Deputy PM Denitsa Zlateva as National Coordinator for the preparation and organization of the Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council EU in 2018, as well as coordinator relevant to the infrastructure and priorities of the presidency. She will ensure the implementation of the national policy on EU matters, head the Council for European Affairs and represent Bulgaria at the Council of General Affairs.

Deputy PM Malina Kroumova will be responsible for cohesion policy and will take part in the meetings of the General Affairs Council. These revisions were made with Council of Ministers' Decree 114/2016 on the establishment of a national mechanism for coordinating the preparation and procedure of the Bulgarian presidency.