The Realization of a New Administrative and Territorial Planning of Republic of Bulgaria - Basis for Applying The European Principles of Regionalism

In the present study the author examines the administrative and territorial planning as a basic, immutable principle in the organization and administration of each country.The administrative and territorial planning reflects most completely and comprehensively the democratic character and content of the general government− through the combination of the perceived and established model of political organization of society and the principles and the nature of the existing state system.The author is for the realization of a new administrative and territorial division of the country, and proposes that territorial units (the planning regions) become administrative and territorial ones (such as are the provinces and municipalities atpresent), through amendment of the fundamental law−the Constitution. On that basis the planning regions will have their own administrative structure and budget. Thiscircumstance will lead to a stronger realization of the process of decentralization andtransparency in the management of the administrative and territorial units; the possibilityto apply the European Charter of Regional Self-Government. Greatly reduced will be thenegative impact of the "centre-periphery" issue caused now by the provinces (the formerdistricts). There will be created conditions allowing us to reduce the socio-economic disproportions between the individual administrative and territorial units and, last but notleast, to apply effectively the principles of regionalism laid down in the development ofthe European Union.