21.01.2012

Council of Ministers' Decree No 41 of 20 January 2012 approves the 2013 budget procedure and the responsibilities of drafting the budgetary documents. The procedure envisages that the draft State Budget Law be submitted to the National Assembly not later than 14 September 2012, thus extending the time for its discussion and adoption by a month and a half. 

The 2013 budget procedure is compliant with the deadlines of the European Semester for 2012 in view of a closer coordination and management of EU economic policies and strengthening of the economic governance and fiscal surveillance of macroeconomic imbalances, as well as with the recommendations of the Council of the EU on the National Reform Programme of the Republic of Bulgaria (2011-2015) and the Convergence Programme of the Republic of Bulgaria (2011-2014).

The 2013 budget procedure includes two main stages. The first one ends with the Council of Ministers' approval of the main assumptions, the three-year budget forecast and the expenditure ceilings of first-level spending units (excluding per municipality) in the period 2013-2015. The second stage ends with the Council of Ministers' approval of the draft 2013 State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria and its submission into the National Assembly for consideration and adoption.

The 2013 budget procedure envisages mechanisms for greater budget transparency and more possibilities for public participation in the discussion of the policies and reforms conducted.