Strengthening the Court System in Bulgaria through Implementation of the Court Improvement Plan

The Program for the Development of the Judicial System is implementing a one-year projects with the support of USAID and German Marshall Fund which is aimed ar continuing the development of the Model Courts and Courts in Partnership Program which began in 2003 with USAID assistance. The tool the courts have used in their work is the Court Improvement Plan. In 2007, the Court Improvement Plan was approved by the Supreme Judicial Council for implementation in the courts nation-wide.

The project goals include:

• Provide sustainability for the achievements of the Model Courts and Courts in Partnership;
• Introduce the Model Courts and Courts in Partnership Program in at least three new courts;
• Improve customer service through the creation of at least three new information centers in courts;
• Create a second part to the Court Improvement Plan;
• Continue the active cooperation with the Supreme Judicial Council to promote the Program and the Plan nation-wide.

The courts which joined the Model Courts and Courts in Partnership Program were chosen with the active participation of representatives of the Supreme Judicial Council and of Model Courts and Courts in Partnership. The Program for the Development of the Judicial System received a total of 15 applications submitted by courts from throughout the country.

The courts which were selected to join the program are:

1. Varna Military Court in partnership with Varna District Court
2. Varna Administrative Court in partnership with Varna Regional Court
3. Silistra Regional Court in partnership with Varna Regional Court
4. Sliven Regional Court in partnership with Sliven District Court
5. Sofia Region Administrative Court in partnership with Yambol Administrative Court
6. Haskovo Administrative Court in partnership with Yambol Administrative Court
7. Shumen Administrative Court in partnership with Shumen District Court.

New information centers were opened in Veliko Tarnovo Administrative Court (on 16 September 2009), Radomir Regional Court (on 7 October 2009) and Lovech District Court (on 12 October 2009).

On 4 December 2009 two more courts were awarded the status of Model Courts - Yambol Administrative Court and Vratsa Regional Court.

The project is implemented with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development, the German Marshall Fund and the Balkan Trust for Democracy.