At the end of March 2005, with a Decision # 223/ 30.03.2005, the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria adopted Additions to the National Anticorruption Strategy and the Program for its implementation for the period of 2004 – 2005.
The Decision created a new article 1.7, which aims at stimulating the adoption and implementation of measures for counteracting corruption at the “higher levels” of power. Some of those measures include:
• Development and adoption of an Ethical Code for ministers and politically appointed civil servants in the executive power;
• Introduction of compulsory training for the members of the political cabinets on implementing measures for counteracting corruption, managing conflict of interests and improving professional ethics;
• Introduction of training for the chairs of the state agencies, the directors of executive agencies and the members of the state commissions involved in issues regarding: counteracting corruption, management of conflict of interest and professional ethics;
• Establishment of a joint committee with business representatives in order to create a public-private partnership for counteracting corruption in the business sector and the “higher levels” of power;
• Developing and adopting of additional measures to improve the control over the spending of resources from EU funds and monitoring the execution of concession contracts.
