site.btaGovernment Establishes Council for Civil Society Development

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, the government set up a Council for Civil Society Development which is to be chaired by Kalina Konstantinova, Deputy Prime Minister for Good Governance.

The new Council will work on the passage of a volunteering bill which has been discussed for many years now but is yet to be enacted. Other areas of work will be support to the state in the elaboration and implementation of policies in support to the development of civil society, creation of an adequate public model for financing of civic organizations so that they can enhance the support they provide to people, and a model for sharing of the expertise of the civic organizations who come up with workable studies and recommendations which fail to reach the relevant institutions. 

According to Konstantinova, the state owes much to the active civil, volunteering and charity organizations. In her words, forms of efficient dialogue and cooperation should be provided, and the Council will be such a platform. 

The criteria for joining the Council are set out in its rules of work. 

The Council will have its first meeting by the end of February. ZH