17 March 2010

Balkan Assist Association, with the support of the informal network Forum for Civic Participation and other NGOs throughout the country, launched the first National Citizens' Initiative for amendments to the Law On Direct Citizens Participation In State Government And Local Self-Government.
The law was adopted on May 29,2009 in the last days of the 40th National Assembly and is based on a draft, elaborated by a team of experts around Balkan Assist, but with substantial changes, restricting the right of real citizens influence on the processes of decision-making at national and local level.
The National Citizens' Initiative is a new form of direct citizen participation, which is regulated by the abovementioned law and is enabling citizens to make proposals to the National Assembly or to the central executive representatives to address issues of national importance.
Proposals of the Initiative are:
1. To modify the requirement for a quorum for the validity of national and local referendums
2. To reduce the required number of signatures required for conducting a national referendum on the initiative of citizens.
Signatures in support of the Initiative will be collected until the end of May 2010 and will then be submitted to the National Assembly.

If you want to support the proposals for legislative changes, you can contact the initiators.
Balkan Assist
Tel / fax: 02/962 86 70 02/962 86 71
E-mail: balkanassist@balkanassist.bg
Website: www.balkanassist.bg
Contact Persons:
Krassimira Kamenova, Executive Director, 0888 57 27 36
Slaveya Hristova, Deputy Chairperson of the Board, 0888 55 40 16