Civil Society Development Council (CSDC) – Report and Chair Rotation

The role of the Civil Society Development Council (CSDC) is to ensure a structured and democratic mechanism for civic participation in national governance, while fostering a functioning partnership between the state and civil society organizations. To date, 16 meetings have been held, yet key priorities remain unaddressed, along with numerous working sessions, letters, and other efforts, the CSDC has yet to begin implementing its two main priorities: establishing a financial mechanism to support civic initiatives and working on a new Strategy for Supporting Civil Society Organizations – both of which fall within its core mandate.

By failing to fulfill these key commitments, the CSDC is also falling short of its overall mandate. Rather than setting an example of effective cooperation between civil society organizations and public institutions, the Council risks further eroding public trust in institutions and worsening attitudes toward the civic sector.

Council representatives from civil society are requesting that the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister promptly convene a meeting to begin fulfilling the Council’s legal obligations.

You can read the full report (in Bulgarian) HERE.