Topical Information

NAMRB and the Association of Mayors of Villages Discuss Models for Effective Interaction Between Municipalities and Small Settlements

12 February 2026 | Views: 128

On 11 February, an unplanned but productive working meeting took place at the office of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) between its team and the Management Board of the National Association of Mayors of Villages in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMV). The discussion was initiated in the context of a draft amendment to the Local Self-Government and Local Administration Act (LSGLAA) submitted for review by the Parliamentary Committee on Regional Policy, Development, and Local Self-Government.

The meeting focused on practical issues along the “municipality – village” line. Participants emphasized the need to develop a model of interaction that upholds the principles of local self-government while providing pragmatic, citizen-focused solutions.

Participants

From NAMRB:

• Executive Director Silviya Georgieva and her deputy Teodora Dacheva

• Daniela Ushatova, Head of Local Policies and Finance Team

• Plamen Petrov, Legal Advisor

• Yuliyana Koleva, Senior Expert on Membership and Representation

• Maria Ivanova, Project Coordinator

From NAMV:

• Hristo Yanev, Chair of the Board and Mayor of Obzor

• Desislava Terzieva, Mayor of Markovo

• Nikolay Markov, Mayor of Kiten

• Anton Krastev, Mayor of Ledenik

• Samuil Popov, Mayor of Bistritsa

• Rosen Despov, Mayor of Chernomorets

• Eng. Nikola Gostev, Mayor of Dolno Kamartsi

Key Discussion Points

• NAMRB reiterated its official negative stance on the draft amendment, arguing that it conflicts with the Constitution, lacks proper justification, and contains legal-technical gaps that could create legal uncertainty and administrative difficulties for municipal authorities. Many provisions merely replicate existing laws without improving the legal framework, creating a sense of normative inflation.

• Executive Director Silviya Georgieva stressed that legislative changes must be precise, carefully justified, and grounded in the constitutional principles of local self-government, as well as the realities of Bulgaria’s administrative-territorial structure. She highlighted that the stability of local governance relies on nearly 4,000 elected mayors – 265 municipal mayors, over 3,100 village mayors, and around 1,900 deputy mayors – making any legislative change highly sensitive.

• Village mayors raised the issue of high public expectations versus limited authority, noting challenges in dealing with external institutions or contractors. Examples were given where infrastructure projects completed in small settlements developed defects months later, leaving local officials responsible for resolving them.

• Desislava Terzieva highlighted that roughly one-quarter of Bulgaria’s population lives in small settlements, emphasizing the social and demographic significance of empowering village mayors alongside municipal leaders. She noted that in areas with limited state presence, local leaders are often the most visible representatives of public authority, handling everything from daily issues to serious infrastructure problems.

• Legal expert Marin Bozhkov stressed that the existing communication system between village mayors, municipal councils, and municipal mayors “not only fails to function but creates opportunities for abuse.”

• The discussion also covered the budgets of small settlements, with NAMV stressing the need for clear justification and transparency in annual budget formation. NAMRB noted that municipalities themselves operate under limited resources and have long advocated for amendments to the Public Finance Act to ensure fairer and more predictable funding.

• Specific examples were discussed, such as the fund allocation formula in Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, illustrating the balance sought between different local units. NAMRB’s financial strategy includes strengthening municipal revenue bases without additional tax burdens, for example, by updating property tax assessments to reflect real market values, which would automatically increase revenue without raising tax rates.

• A strategic proposal to transfer 2% of the personal income tax to local budgets was also discussed as a way to better link economic activity in a territory with resources for its development.

Conclusion

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to cooperation between NAMRB and NAMV. Participants agreed that future initiatives should be developed jointly, and that dialogue across all levels of local government is key to the sustainable development of small settlements and Bulgaria as a whole.