This publication attempts to give a picture of each of the countries of this region and the CEE region as a whole. It also offers comparisons of the actual situation in our region with best practices and international standards, such as the Aarhus Convention, the Sofia Guidelines and EU Directives. In addition, this volume is part of a series of publications that attempts to draw conclusions on a Pan-European level by taking an overview of trends and practices in the CEE region, the Newly Independent States (NIS) and Western European countries. The series is being prepared through a cooperative effort by the REC, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Ecopravo-Lviv, using country surveys from 15 CEE countries, five NIS countries and 11 Western European countries.
In order for public participation to function well into the future, the government of Bulgaria must promote: openness and transparency in the state and local administration; rules regulating the relations between the authorities and the public; sanctions for those who do not respect the rules; and education about the rights and duties in a democratic society.