CLRP Seminar Initiates TV Debate on Private Enforcement Agents
On November 8, the USAID Commercial Law Reform Program (CLRP) helped organize a televised debate entitled “Private Enforcement Agents – Vicious Collectors or Knights of the Law?” The debate was aired during prime time on 7 Days Television. Private enforcement agent Katilin Popov, former CLRP legal adviser, faced leading journalist Vassil Chobanov in a discussion moderated by host Diana Tusheva.
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| Katilin Popov, private enforcement agent and journalists Diana Tusheva
and Vassil Chobanov in a televised discussion on the public image of
private enforcement agents |
USAID supports the reform of judgments enforcement to address the inefficiency of the system and a backlog of over $1 billion in non-enforced judgments. As its program moves ahead with newly-appointed private enforcement agents collecting debts, there has been continuing discussion as to whether these agents deserve the public trust. The TV program aimed to raise public awareness and dispel negative stereotypes about the new profession. During the debate, Popov conveyed the message that agents seek positive decisions in collecting claims. He encouraged debtors to take initiative and contact private enforcement agents to discuss possibilities of resolving claims.
The idea for the televised debate was generated at a CLRP seminar for journalists in Borovets on November 4. Understanding the key role of a well-informed and critical press in oversight of the new profession, twelve leading Sofia journalists gathered to discuss how they could help the new agents. As a result of the workshop, the participants produced more informed articles and broadcast reports about the private enforcement profession, raising awareness about agents’ role and the need for adequate supervision mechanisms. Stoimen Chakalov from Banker Weekly commented, “This seminar was timely, informative and provided open answers to important questions.”
To address the public’s high expectations for the profession, the USAID Commercial Law Reform Program has engaged its partners, the Ministry of Justice and the Camber of Private Enforcement Agents, in building an effective system of supervision over the operations and the financial activities of the agents.
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