site.btaUniversity of National and World Economy Recognizes Best Administrations from 2025

The University of National and World Economy (UNWE) in Sofia hosted its Awards for Best Administration 2025 on Tuesday. The initiative recognizes best practices in national, regional, and municipal administration.

Awards were presented in three categories: Administrative Efficiency, Innovation, and Ethical Conduct, Openness, and Transparency. The UNWE Rector's special award was presented to the Municipality of Apriltsi for its role in the national commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising, and to the Municipality of Etropole for its consistent efforts in 2025 to develop the community through investments in tourism, sports, social services, and modern local governance.

In his key remarks during the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev said that an administration with high professional expertise, free from political ties, and possessing strong moral character is the State's best immune system. He added that the past period of political instability and frequently changing governments was a time of "political experiments with the State and exhaustion for state and municipal employees, who often had to choose between their professional conscience and the convenience of remaining silent".

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his conviction that one of the most important tasks is to develop a professional administration that thinks critically, proposes solutions in accordance with the law, flags problems, and preserves institutional memory. He added that good coordination and interaction between political leadership and administration are essential prerequisites for stable and successful governance. "The goals are set out in the government's management programme, but it is the administration that knows how a decision will play out across public systems, where there are risks, where there are gaps, and where good intentions can lead to poor outcomes," he stated.

UNWE Rector Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov noted that UNWE's initiative reflects the desire to highlight and promote high standards in public administration, administrative professionalism, and best practices that contribute to better service for citizens and businesses. In the context of dynamic economic and social processes, the role of the administration is becoming increasingly significant, and its effectiveness, transparency, and competence determine not only the successful implementation of public policies but also citizens' trust in institutions, Dimitrov said, adding that this is why it is important to showcase and promote good examples.

The Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation received the Best Administration Among Ministries Award. The National Revenue Agency received the Best Administration Among State Agencies Award. The Best Municipal Administration Award and the Best Regional Administration Award went to Burgas municipality and Sofia region respectively.