site.btaOverall Local Integrity System Index for 2024 at 3.27 - Transparency International - Bulgaria

The overall Local Integrity System Index for 2024 stands at 3.27, Transparency International – Bulgaria said during a presentation of their latest study on Tuesday.

This annual index offers a comparative analysis of the key institutions and social actors that form the integrity and accountability framework at the local level. The index evaluates the anti-corruption capacity, role, and significance of municipal councils, mayors, municipal administrations, political parties, judicial authorities, police, media, businesses, and civil society across 27 municipalities and regional centers in Bulgaria. Scores are measured on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).

“Despite challenges, we can sense a desire for positive change, which is naturally reflected in the efforts of local authorities. In many municipalities, they are the engine of this movement,” Kalin Slavov, Executive Director of Transparency International – Bulgaria, said, adding that the fight against corruption has always been part of good governance.

The cities of Burgas and Ruse are at the top, with scores of 3.71 and 3.7, respectively, demonstrating strong governance capacity, Slavov noted.

They are followed by Sofia, Plovdiv, Montana, Razgrad, Dobrich, Blagoevgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Stara Zagora, Vidin, Pernik, Targovishte, Yambol, Gabrovo, Kyustendil, Lovech, Sliven, Vratsa, Haskovo, Pleven, Smolyan, Pazardzhik, Varna, and Shumen. Silistra and Kardzhali are at the bottom, with scores of 2.71 and 2.63, respectively.

Vanya Nusheva, an expert at Transparency International - Bulgaria, said that 177 indicators were analyzed for each municipality. While in 2015 there were seven municipalities at the bottom of the rankings with scores below 3, now there are only two, she added.

Municipal administrations, described by Nusheva as the pillar of local institutions, got the highest score of 3.89, with Burgas, Ruse, and Montana being at the top and Silistra and Kardzhali at the bottom.

Mayors received a score of 3.82, up from 3.69 in 2023. The mayors of Targovishte, Ruse, Sofia, and Dobrich received the highest scores, with those of Smolyan, Kardzhali, and Silistra at the bottom of the ranking.

The overall score of municipal councils improved from 3 to 3.25. Burgas ranks first, followed by Ruse, Montana, and Blagoevgrad, with Haskovo, Yambol, and Silistra at the bottom.

The judiciary got a score of 3.51 but experienced a decrease compared to previous years. The police saw their index drop to 3.21.

Businesses saw their score rise to 2.78 this year. The media scored an index of 2.99. Civil society got a score of 3.03. Despite limited financial resources, local communities are compensating by mobilizing volunteers and experts, Nusheva added.

At the end of Tuesday’s event, Kyustendil Municipality received an award for supporting civic initiatives and active work with civil society. Sofia Municipality was awarded for transparency in the discussion of the annual budget and inclusion of proposals from citizens' committees. Stara Zagora Municipality was honoured with an award for new approaches in organizing the work of the municipal administration and introducing ethical standards for administration management. Burgas Municipality was recognized with an award for its contribution to maintaining web-based platforms that ensure transparency in business conditions and attract investments. Montana Municipality was awarded for public reports on the work of municipal administration structures. Blagoevgrad Municipality received an award for applying a strategic approach to the municipality's control activities over municipal companies.