site.btaParliament to Vote on Risk Management and Integrity Reforms in Public Enterprises

MPs will vote at second reading on amendments to the Public Enterprises Act introducing a risk management system for public enterprises, which also includes the position of an integrity officer. The amendments, submitted by Anna Aleksandrova MP of GERB–UDF and a group of MPs, and approved at first reading in October, are the first item on the agenda for Thursday’s plenary sitting.

The changes implement a recommendation from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and form part of the measures set out in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The corruption-risk management systems cover the selection of senior officials, measures to prevent conflicts of interest, a methodology for assessing and monitoring corruption risks, ethics and integrity training for staff, and the introduction of the integrity officer role.

The amendments also expand the powers of the Public Enterprises and Control Agency, which will be required to adopt the above-mentioned corruption-risk management system and oversee its implementation, as well as to adopt a Code of Ethical Conduct for employees of public enterprises.

In addition, public enterprises will be required to include assessments and monitoring reports on corruption risks in their interim and annual activity reports.

The parliamentary agenda also includes the first reading of amendments to the Value Added Tax Act and the Marks and Geographical Indications Act.