Transparency International - Bulgaria was denied access as an independent observer of the work of the interdepartmental committee, responsible for renegotiating the clauses of the contract for the "Trakia" motorway concession deal
Transparency International – Bulgaria was denied access as an independent observer of the work of the interdepartmental committee, responsible for renegotiating the clauses of the contract for the concession of “Trakia” motorway, despite the official claim of the organization to Minister Asen Gagauzov, sent on 4 August 2006.
In its reply to the organization from 25 August 2006 the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works rejected the request and pointed out the discussion of financial and commercial matters and the will of the negotiators as grounds for the confidential status of the discussions.
The organization does not accept the arguments for confidentiality as a reason for denial of its request, because in the letter sent to the Ministry it explicitly offered the representatives of TI to sign an agreement for confidentiality of the information.
Transparency International - Bulgaria finds extremely alarming the continuing lack of transparency over the negotiations for “Trakia” motorway, as well as the lack of willingness of the Ministry to allow representatives of civil society to observe the actions of the administration, concerning matters which involve significant public interest.