On June 6, 2024, a round table on the topic "Developing Fiscal Decentralization And Improving Local Financial Management in Bulgaria" was held in room 420 of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. The event was organized at the initiative of the Council of Europe, in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the Faculty of Philosophy of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

The scientific forum was opened by Prof. Dr. Sonia Mileva, Vice-Rector of Sofia University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boris Popivanov, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy.

The main results of the project on "Developing Fiscal Decentralization and Improving Local Financial Management in Bulgaria" were presented by Natalia Militello – Senior Project Officer at Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Council of Europe.

Participants' attention was drawn to the content of four reports, including the report containing political advice for municipalities in Bulgaria and the report examining the training needs of local authorities.

Gábor Péteri – Expert from the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Council of Europe, presented recommendations aimed at municipalities regarding the development of financial autonomy and the increase of municipal revenues, as well as opportunities for changes in the intergovernmental transfer system.

Additional information on the development of fiscal decentralization in Bulgaria, as well as data on the attitudes and assessments of municipalities, was presented by Daniela Ushatova from the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria.

The subsequent discussion involved representatives from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, South-West University "Neofit Rilski," the University of National and World Economy, Burgas Free University, Forum Citizen Participation, the Foundation for Local Government Reform, the National Association of Municipal and City Administration in Bulgaria, as well as students from the bachelor’s and master`s programmes of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.