CSO Legal Reform. The NGO Perspective Luben Panov Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law

BCNL Public benefit foundation registered in 2001 Affiliate of ICNL & ECNL Mission – to improve the legal framework for civil society in Bulgaria Worked on the CSO law, tax laws related to CSOs, social contracting for CSOs, volunteerism, budget subsidies, etc.

The obvious… Creating working groups Research/Providing comparative information Discussions Drafting Advocating through public campaigns, assistance to decision-makers, etc.

And not so obvious… Building local support/ownership; Participatory process Putting the CSO legal issues on the agenda of the government Gaining the trust of both CSOs and the government Educating decision-makers Educating people

Implementation is equally important Preparing implementing regulations Popularizing the new rules to CSOs and the general public Training for government officials, judges and other implementers Oversight of implementation practices Monitor and improve

What is important Changing the legal framework is a long process It is also a difficult process It is important to make CSO legal issues part of the agenda of governments; CSO legal reform should be a focus for donors because it creates the system in which CSOs operate Sometimes not only financial but political support is also important

Important Focuses Ensuring there is local capacity developed and supported; Ensuring there are sufficient mechanisms for CSO funding after international donors are not there; Ensuring a mechanism for cooperation and dialogue is in place especially on CSO sector development issues; Implementation and monitoring of CSO legal reform.

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