“Fiscal decentralisation is not about administrative restructuring; it is about political empowerment and citizen trust”, stated the Secretary General of the Congress Local and Regional Authorities, Mathieu Mori, at closing the final conference of the EU/CoE project “Developing fiscal decentralisation and improving local financial management” held in Sofia on 16 April 2024. The project achieved significant milestones thanks to effective cooperation between central government, local municipalities, and civil society organisations, and resulted in agreement on a sequenced roadmap to support the decentralisation reform across all levels of governance in Bulgaria. This reform is essential to strengthen democracy and good governance in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the Committee of Ministers recommendation CM/Rec(2023)5 on principles of good democratic governance.

Implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance at the Congress, the project played a crucial role in advancing the debate on fiscal decentralisation and in building capacities of local authorities in Bulgaria. 

During his visit for the final conference, the Secretary General met with the Vice-President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Violeta Koritarova (pictured), underscoring the importance of advancing fiscal decentralisation.

Mr Mori also presented the "Rejuvenating Politics" programme, a Congress initiative to promote youth participation in public life and decision-making processes at the local and regional levels, in a discussion with students and researchers at the University of Sofia.