site.btaDB Co-leader Atanassov: Reform of Special Services Should Be One of Parliament's Priorities

The reform of the special services should be one of the main priorities in the work of the National Assembly in the new plenary session, as well as the introduction of a mechanism for effective management by the executive branch, including by changing the procedure for appointing the heads of the services, which should be done by a decision of the Parliament on proposal of the prime minister, Democratic Bulgaria (DB) co-leader Atanas Atanassov wrote on Facebook on Friday.

He highlighted the lack of effective oversight and accountability, the deficit of reliable sources of information, the misuse of information, rivalries and conflicts between different services, insufficient funding and equipment, low public trust and the inability to adapt to the dynamic international environment as some of the challenges that the special services are facing.

Atanassov proposed 8 steps to support the reform in the special services. According to him, the most important is strategic planning and evaluation or "developing a detailed analysis of the current structure, activity and effectiveness of the work, preparing a strategic plan for reform that defines the goals, priorities and ways to achieve them."

It is also important to update the legislation that regulates the activities of the special services and bring it into line with the Constitution, democratic values and citizens' rights.

According to Atanassov, personnel reform and professional training should be carried out to develop the professional capacity, psychological resilience and motivation of employees.

Technological innovations should be introduced, modern technologies should be integrated and the operational and technical capabilities of the services should be improved, with strict guarantees for the respect of citizens' rights, Atanassov further wrote.

The DB co-leader proposed the introduction of effective control by a civilian independent supervisory body that would monitor the lawful activities of the services and prevent abuses of power. Good communication and information to the public, increased transparency in the activities of the services, active public involvement in the dialogue to balance security and civil liberties are among the proposals for the reform steps.

Strengthening cooperation, coordination and information exchange with other state bodies and international partners is also among the steps pointed out by Atanassov.

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria submitted bills for the reforms in the security services on October 2, 2023. Continue the Change co-leader Kiril Petkov told journalists in parliament that two bills on reforms in the security sector have been submitted to the parliament's registry: a bill to amend and supplement the State Agency for National Security Act and a bill to amend the Act on the Management and Functioning of the National Security Protection System, according to the National Assembly's website.