MFA has a new Statute
21 December 2011 News
The Council of Ministers today adopted a decree approving the new Statute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In doing so, the Bulgarian Government put into effect the amendments to the Diplomatic Service Act as approved by the National Assembly and implemented one of its main priorities for administrative reform.
The Statute establishes the basis for implementation of structural reforms in the Foreign Ministry in accordance with the conclusions of the 2010 Strategic Review of the diplomatic service.
It makes possible a functional organizational model to achieve greater efficiency, control and co-ordination in foreign policy and international relations.
In line with the recent amendments to the Diplomatic Service Act and equivalent to existing directorates-general in the diplomatic services of EU Member States and EU institutions, the Statute provides for the introduction of directorates-general as structural units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This achieves two major goals: improving both the internal co-ordination of foreign policy of Bulgaria, as well as interaction with the diplomatic services of Member States of the European Union in shaping and implementing the EU’s common foreign and security policy.
With the adoption of the Statute, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have 18 directorates and an Inspectorate in place of the existing 24 directorates and Inspectorate.
The establishment of three directorates-general is envisaged - political, global and European Affairs.
The Director-General for Political Affairs, pursuant to art. 12 of the Diplomatic Service Act, is director of policy - mandatory for all EU foreign ministries responsible for the preparation of national positions and foreign policy co-ordination under the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union.
The MFA staff complement is set at 1350 positions. This represents a reduction of 130 positions or about nine per cent of the total number of personnel specified in existing Statutes.
Taking into account the cuts already made in late 2009 and early 2010, after the adoption of the new Statute, the staff of the MFA will be about 21 per cent less than at August 1 2009.