12.07.2013

"We committed to the project because it is very useful and its results provide an opportunity to define the risk sectors and to lay down effective measures to counteract the informal economy", Deputy Minister of Finance Lyudmila Petkova stated when assuming the Chair of the Public Council for Restriction and Prevention of the Informal Economy under project "Restriction and Prevention of the Informal Economy", implemented by the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association. The lowering of the administrative burden on the businesses is among the Government's priorities and one of the two group of measures in the Action Plan to be prepared by the Working Group within the Ministry of Finance with representatives of employers, trade unions, municipalities and the revenue agencies is dedicated to it, Lyudmila Petkova added. The other group of measures pertains to increasing budget revenues, reducing the informal economy and preventing tax fraud. An analysis of the implementation of the single tax and social security account, automatic electronic notification of companies about changes made to their tax and social security account, provision of new e-services and redesign of existing ones are among the concrete ideas in the context of that plan, Deputy Minister Petkova added.

A report on the progress of the project implementation for the period December 2012 - June 2013 was discussed and adopted. A report on the update of Composite Index "Business to the Rules" was also presented. The index consists of two components - statistical and sociological, which include certain indicators, Prof. Stefan Petranov, key project expert and chief methodologist of the Composite Index, clarified. The analysis shows that the positive upward trend of the index in 2011, i.e. more "business to the rules", is slowing down. According to the expert the reasons therefor are the continuing economic crisis and the growing tension and uncertainty linked with the end of the political cycle. A presentation on up-to-date assessments of the impact of the measures taken to limit the damages of the informal economy was also on the agenda for discussion. Assoc. Prof. Emiliya Chengelova summarized the assessments by concluding that positive indications were observed for raising the sensitivity to the informal economy topic and willingness to do "business to the rules". These are very good signs for a positive change in the attitude of employers and workers to observing the rules, she added.