At the beginning of the week the 12th public and political anti-corruption forum took place in Bulgaria. All day politicians, public figures and experts discussed the various forms and dimensions of what has been the scourge of Bulgarian society in recent years. The facts are more than alarming because they show that despite efforts to curb corruption in this country, it is actually on the rise.

Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova bitterly admitted that the phenomenon has been spreading faster than the measures taken by state institutions and fighting corruption should not be just a slogan. Minister of Justice Ekaterina Zaharieva pointed out that the results of a report for counteracting corruption made by the Centre for the Study of Democracy were not pleasant at all.

The report reads that over the past five years administrative corruption has been growing and conquering the state, leading to the formation of areas with constant problems that block most counter measures. Major problems are the abuse of procurement mechanisms by the shadow economy, VAT frauds, smuggling and functioning of illegal markets, blocking law enforcement institutions, hampering the work of various institutions and control systems, as well as the low independence of media. About 18% of companies in Bulgaria have reported about experiencing corruption pressure by government officials, while the average level in the EU is about 4 percent. Most of the corruption deals in the business sector remain unregistered and unpunished.

Reports show similar conditions existed a decade ago. During the tenth edition of the anti-corruption forum in January 2009 a report by the Center for the Study of Democracy was entitled “Crime with no Punishment.” The authors then warned that corruption was on the rise and money transactions in corruption schemes reached about 2.1 million a year. It was pointed out that Bulgaria was a country affected by political corruption and there was lack of morality or political responsibility. Apparently, the warning from 2009 that in view of the looming economic recession back then, corruption pressure was probably going to rise, did not help much. Both then and now the judicial system is pointed out as the one responsible for the inefficient fighting against corruption. Then and now experts helplessly point out that it is impossible to fight corruption in the absence of a well functioning system with honest judges and strict prosecutors. In 2009 and in 2016 the sector of energy is said to be the most affected one by corruption practices.

Public discussions are obviously not enough to overcome corruption. Strict application of the law is required. However, Bulgaria has no law on corruption and thus fighting the phenomenon, especially in the upper echelons of power, is missing a basic legal instrument. That is why during the latest public political forum President Rosen Plevneliev called for parliament’s support for the draft anti-corruption bill, proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva. In the fight against corruption we don’t need compromise but consensus, the head of state said, hinting at the fact that no consensus over the issue actually exists in this country.

English: Alexander Markov