РАЙОНИТЕ ЗА ПЛАНИРАНЕ В БЪЛГАРИЯ ИЛИ НЕОБХОДИМОСТТА ОТ НОВО АДМИНИСТРАТИВНО-ТЕРИТОРИАЛНО УСТРОЙСТВО

Abstract

The Republic of Bulgaria is a full member of the EU thus the administrative and territorial structure of the state should be effective in order to accelerate the processes of decentralization, create the conditions for the establishment of local authorities with strong powers and responsibilities. In the present study a historical overview of the administrative and territorial structure of Bulgaria is presented. The author highlights the necessity for administrative and territorial reform in order to provide adequate administrative services in smaller settlements, a real opportunity for regional development as well as prerequisites for improving the living environment for the people. The planning regions in Bulgaria and the main directions of change are considered. According to the author, there is a need to improve the functional and institutional organization of local authorities as well as necessity to restructure the regions in the second level of self-government.