The Media Policy and Protocol Directorate has the following functions:
Establishes and maintains the institutional identity of the Ministry, the public image of the Minister, Deputy Ministers, representatives of the political cabinet, and the Ministry’s expert team designated for public media appearances.
Ensures the implementation of the Ministry’s information policy by:
- organising access to information in accordance with the constitutional rights of citizens, while complying with the Access to Public Information Act;
- informing the public about the Ministry’s policies and the programmes and activities carried out by the Ministry;
- providing methodological guidance and coordinating the relations of the administrative structures within the Ministry with the public, including by organising public appearances of Ministry employees, including media appearances;
- proposing the conduct of public opinion surveys and analyses with a view to planning an adequate media strategy in support of current or forthcoming decisions and policies of the Ministry;
- maintaining and updating the Ministry’s website on a daily basis by publishing current information in Bulgarian and English;
- being responsible for media monitoring on topics related to the activities of the Ministry.
Prepares, jointly with the Parliamentary Secretary, the Minister’s replies to questions and interpellations within the framework of parliamentary oversight in the National Assembly.
Works in coordination with the State Protocol Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with state visits, as well as with the Public Relations and Protocol units of the Administration of the President, the Government Information Service of the Council of Ministers, and those of other ministries and government institutions.
Maintains contacts with the embassies of foreign states in the Republic of Bulgaria and with representatives of leading companies and financial institutions for arranging protocol and business meetings with the management of the Ministry.
Assists the Chief of Cabinet in preparing the programme of the Minister, Deputy Ministers, and the Secretary-General for official and working visits abroad and in the country, as well as the programmes for official guests of the Minister, Deputy Ministers, and the Secretary-General.
Ensures, in coordination with the Protocol Directorate of the Council of Ministers, the protocol arrangements for the Minister’s official foreign trips, including visas, reservations, accommodation, transportation arrangements, etc.
Handles the Minister’s protocol correspondence and, where necessary, arranges for the engagement of interpreters to and from Bulgarian.
Prepares the necessary documents for the official foreign trips of Ministry employees, as well as of the managers and executive directors of wholly state-owned companies in which the rights of the State as owner of the capital are exercised by the Minister.
Coordinates and supervises the organisation, conduct, and protocol arrangements for official and working meetings, conferences, seminars, and discussions.
Participates in the preparation of the Ministry’s forecasts and draft budget, as well as in the implementation of the programmes under the Ministry’s programme budget, within the scope of its functional responsibilities.