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VOTE FOR MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL UNDER THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

REGISTER BY MARCH 10, 2025!

A call is now open for non-profit legal entities for public benefit to participate in the selection process for choosing the new members of the Civil Society Development Council (CSDC). The invitation is published on the Public Consultation Portal.

Who can register as a voter in the election for CSDC members? How can they do it?

Any non-profit legal entity for public benefit can participate in the procedure. To do so, the entity must register no later than March 10, 2025, via the Council’ online platform.
(See the instructions for registration and participation [here])

During registration, organizations must provide basic information PIN, name, registered address, and contact details. IMPORTANT! Upon registration, a Declaration must be submitted by the legal representative of EVERY organisation registering to participate in the procedure for selecting members of the Council. You must sign the declaration using a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). You can find the Declaration template [here].

What you need to know about the Qualified Electronic Signature (QES):

  • The QES must be issued to the individual who legally represents the organization.
  • It can be obtained from a licensed QES provider. See the full list of providers [here].
  • You can also get a free QES using just your phone via the Evrotrust app, which can also be used to sign the declaration.

Who can run as a candidate for CSDC membership? How?

When applying to be registered as a voter, if you decide that you want to be a candidate for membership of the CSDC, you must apply to participate in the vote. Only non-profit legal entities of public benefit with at least 5 years of experience in carrying out activities of public benefit in support of the development of civil society and civic participation can be elected as members of the CSDC.

They must register on the online platform of the Council of Ministers by March 10, 2025. In their registration application, organizations must include a description (up to 500 words) containing information about the required 5 years of experience. The description must be accompanied by materials (documents, links, etc.) as evidence of the activities carried out.

How are CSDC members elected?

The selection of Council members is carried out through a public procedure, which includes the following stages:

  • A call for participation in the selection of Council members is announced (here);
  • By March 10, 2025, legal entities wishing to participate in the procedure (as voters) fill out a registration form available on an electronic platform (here);
  • Legal entities wishing to become members of the Council who meet the criteria to do so, shall submit their application by registering as candidates before the end of the deadline, also 10 March 2025.
  • Within 5 working days of the registration deadline, i.e. by March 17, a commission from the Council of Ministers will review the applications received. After the review, lists of all organizations that have registered as voters and candidates in the procedure will be published on the electronic platform.
  • After the lists of voters and candidates are published, an invitation will be sent to those registered to send their votes within 10 working days.
  • Each organization may vote for a maximum of 14 organizations, including its own candidacy. No more than one vote may be cast for a single organization;
  • The organizations that receive the most votes shall appoint their representative to the Council and his or her deputy.

What is the Civil Society Development Council?

The Civil Society Development Council (CSDC) is an advisory body to the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, focused on the development and implementation of policies that support civil society. It has a 3-year mandate and consists of:

  • 14 civil society organizations, directly elected by other civil society organizations through an online platform;
  • 1 Chairperson, who is the Deputy Prime Minister appointed by the Council of Ministers.

What does the CSDC do?

The CSDC is responsible for:

  • Provides opinions on legislative acts, strategies, and programs. Participates in the preparation, monitors, and evaluates the implementation of the Strategy for Support of Civil Society Organizations;
  • Analyzes the financing and effectiveness of public funds for civil society organizations. Sets priorities, and allocates funds for projects of public importance;
  • Supports interactions between the state, local authorities and civil society organizations by annually assessing their needs, problems, and achievements.

Why participate in the selection process?

The Council is an independent and democratically constituted body – it consists of civil society organizations, entirely elected by other CSO’s. The aim of the CSDC is to build a working partnership between the state and civil society organizations. By participating in it, you have the opportunity to:

  • Work for the development of civil society at the highest level and in close cooperation with the executive branch
  • Give opinions and participate in the development of regulations, strategies, and programs that affect the civil sector
  • Play an active role in determining the areas in which public funds are allocated to support civil society organizations, as well as ensuring transparency and efficiency in this process
  • Support the strengthening of the civil sector by protecting the interests of your target groups at a high level.

What is the registration deadline?

The platform is open for registration from February 17 to March 10, 2025, 11:59 PM. After this deadline, registration will close. You can find full information about the procedure and necessary documents HERE