Petar Dzhelepov – Member of the Financial Supervision Commission made an address at the Annual Report of the Bulgarian Fintech Association

Mr. Petar Dzhelepov – Member of the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) took part in the Annual Report of the Bulgarian Fintech Association for 2021, dedicated to investments in the sector and the place of our country in Europe and the world, with an address on fintech regulations in the non-banking financial sector in Bulgaria and the strategy of the regulator for monitoring the financial innovations.

In the report, Mr. Dzhelepov analyses and outlines the successful development of the fintech sector in Bulgaria, the high technological progress in the non-banking financial sector, the regulations of these important innovations and digitalisations, the Financial Innovation Monitoring Strategy for the period 2021-2024, the introduction of the Innovation hub and its subsequent development, as well as the overall future of the fintech regulations applied by the Financial Supervision Commission.

One of the main goals of the Commission is the introduction of more innovations in the insurance, investment and pension insurance sector in Bulgaria, and at the same time protecting the interests of consumers to the possible maximum.

“In order to keep up with the new digital environment and the expectations of both participants and end users, we must constantly assess and, where necessary, adjust the regulatory framework to adequately deal with the changing risks and business models.” In order to ensure and adequately evaluate new product and business models, we conduct regular surveys on how innovations work and how innovations are applied and accepted among the companies under the Commission’s control. In addition, the main goal set by the Chairman of the FSC, Boyko Atanasov is the organization and implementation of educational programs aimed at increasing the financial literacy of consumers of financial services.”- said Mr. Dzhelepov.

The Financial Supervision Commission pursues a consistent innovation policy and in response to the digital financing package adopted by the European Commission, the FSC has adopted a Financial Innovation Monitoring Strategy for the period 2021-2024. It builds on the previous strategy and outlines a long-term directions in which the FSC would be committed to developing its supervisory activities and implementing the harmonization of the national regulatory framework and practices in the field of financial innovation at EU level.

Periodic reports and statements of insurance brokers

The package of reports, statements and appendices in connection with the submission to the Financial Supervision Commission of the periodic reports of the insurance brokers as of 30.06.2021, on the grounds of Art. 311, para. 3, item 2, in connection with para. 4 of the Insurance Code has been updated.

In connection with the above, the completion of the above reports and statements, and their submission through the electronic portal of the FSC, must begin after downloading the mandatory updated format (version 30.06.2021), published on the FSC website at:

www.fsc.bg, section “Administrative documents”, subsection “Forms and templates”, “Insurance market“.

IMPORTANT:

Attachments must meet the following conditions:

  • The main file containing the reference package according to Appendices 2.1-2.8 and 3.1-3.4 with basic information must be in .xls format (Microsoft Excel 2003);
  • The content of the main file with basic information must be filled in according to the templates approved by the Financial Supervision Commission, observing all rules for data validity (these rules are not part of this instruction and can be downloaded from the Financial Supervision Commission website) ;
  • The name of the main file with basic information must be formatted according to the rules set by the Financial Supervision Commission;
  • Appendix No. 1 shall be filled in according to the attached template contained in the reference package, the information must be in .xls format;
  • Files must be signed with a universal electronic signature in p7m or p7s format (PKCS # 7), and encryption should NOT be used when signing;
  • The signature on the files must belong to the same employee who logged in the system.

Periodic reports and statements of insurance brokers

The package of reports, statements and appendices in connection with the submission to the Financial Supervision Commission of the periodic reports of the insurance brokers as of 31.12.2021, on the grounds of Art. 311, para. 3, item 2, in connection with para. 4 of the Insurance Code has been updated.

In connection with the above, the completion of the above reports and statements, and their submission through the electronic portal of the FSC, must begin after downloading the mandatory updated format (version 31.12.2021), published on the FSC website at:

www.fsc.bg, section “Administrative documents”, subsection “Forms and templates”, “Insurance market“.

IMPORTANT:

Attachments must meet the following conditions:

  • The main file containing the reference package according to Appendices 2.1-2.8 and 3.1-3.4 with basic information must be in .xls format (Microsoft Excel 2003);
  • The content of the main file with basic information must be filled in according to the templates approved by the Financial Supervision Commission, observing all rules for data validity (these rules are not part of this instruction and can be downloaded from the Financial Supervision Commission website) ;
  • The name of the main file with basic information must be formatted according to the rules set by the Financial Supervision Commission;
  • For Appendix No. 2.4, Appendix No. 2.8, Appendix No. 3.2 and Appendix No. 3.4 of the main file with basic information contained in the reference package, the Note section should indicate the country in which the insurer / reinsurer has its registered office and the territory on which the risk under the concluded insurance / reinsurance contract is located
  • Appendix No. 1 shall be filled in according to the attached template contained in the reference package, the information must be in .xls format;
  • The Insurance Code stipulates an obligation for insurance brokers to submit information on the ongoing professional training and development of the persons under Art. 303, para. 2 and 3 and Art. 304, para. 1 of the IC within the year. The reports shall be submitted to the Commission annually by January 31 of the following year. For this purpose, Appendix No. 3 in .xls format should be filled in, according to the attached template contained in the reference package;
  • Files must be signed with a universal electronic signature in p7m or p7s format (PKCS # 7), and encryption should NOT be used when signing;
  • The signature on the files must belong to the same employee who logged in the system.

Parliament Elected Two New Members of the FSC Board

The Parliament elected two new members of the Financial Supervision Commission proposed by the Chairman of the FSC – Mr. Stoyan Mavrodiev, according to his legislative prerogatives. The new members are Ms. Ralitsa Agayn – Guri  elected for a  Deputy  Chairperson  in charge of „Insurance supervision“ and Mr. Vladimir Savov for a member of the regulator, responsible for policy analysis and risk assessment in financial markets, improving supervisory practice and protecting the interests of investors and insured persons.  

Their term of office is six years.

The candidatures of Ralitsa Agayn-Guri and Vladimir Savov were approved by the Parliament with 128 votes „for“, 9 votes „against“ and 7 „abstain“ and were supported by all parliamentary groups.

The proposal  was based on Art. 84, 8 and Art. 86 , para. 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria in connection with Art. 5 para. 2 of the Act on the Financial Supervision Commission .

In  their speeches  the  two new members expressed their willingness and readiness to improve the mechanisms for protecting the rights of consumers of non-banking financial services,  for the development of financial markets and  for maintaining the financial stability in Bulgaria. 

Order of the Sofia Regional Court

At its meeting on 01.12.2020 the FSC decided to send a request to the Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court to order all enterprises providing public electronic communications networks and / or services to suspend access to websites duly described in the FSC Decision No. 862-ИП/ 19.11.2020. According to the cited decision, the sites should have stopped offering investment services by 23.11.2020, because they belong to persons who are not entitled to carry out investment activities.

 The Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court ordered all enterprises providing electronic communications networks and / or services within 24 hours from the publication of the order on the FSC website (14.01.2021) to suspend access from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria to 4 the websites explicitly mentioned in the FSC’s request.

 The suspension of access to the described websites is necessitated by the fact that investment services are provided through them by persons who are not entitled to provide such services on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

 The order of the Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court which lists the websites to which access should be suspended can be found in the attached file (available in BG version).

Order of the Sofia Regional Court

At its meeting on 23.03.2021 the FSC decided to send a request to the Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court to order all enterprises providing public electronic communications networks and / or services to suspend access to websites duly described in the FSC Decision No. 128-ИП/ 11.03.2021. According to the cited decision, the sites should have stopped offering investment services by 15.03.2021, because they belong to persons who are not entitled to carry out investment activities.

 The Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court ordered all enterprises providing electronic communications networks and / or services within 24 hours from the publication of the order on the FSC website (05.04.2021) to suspend access from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria to 8 the websites explicitly mentioned in the FSC’s request.

 The suspension of access to the described websites is necessitated by the fact that investment services are provided through them by persons who are not entitled to provide such services on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

 The order of the Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court which lists the websites to which access should be suspended can be found in the attached file (available in BG version).

Order of the Sofia Regional Court

At its meeting on 07.10.2021 the FSC decided to send a request to the Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court to order all enterprises providing public electronic communications networks and / or services to suspend access to websites duly described in the FSC Decision No. 716-ИП/28.09.2021 and which by 07.10.2021 have not stopped offering investment services and activities by persons who are not entitled to carry out such services.

The Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court ordered all enterprises providing electronic communications networks and / or services within 24 hours from the publication of the order on the FSC website (14.10.2021) to suspend access from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria to the four websites explicitly mentioned in the FSC’s request.

The suspension of access to the described websites is necessitated by the fact that investment services are provided through them by persons who are not entitled to provide such services on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The order of the Chairperson of the Sofia Regional Court, together with the websites to which access should be suspended can be found in the attached file (available in BG version only).

On the 6th and 7th of March 2012 a training for financial and economic literacy of students from 11th Grade of the Economic and Trade High Schools in Sofia was held

On the 6th and 7th of March 2012, the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC), jointly with the High School of Insurance and Finance (VUZF) and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, held a two-day training on „Financial and Economic Literacy“ for students from the 11th Grade of the National Business and Finance School and the National Trade and Banking High School in Sofia. This is a new educational module developed by the three institutions to increase financial literacy of young people in Bulgaria.

Fulfilling one of its priorities by implementing an active educational policy to increase the financial competence of the general public, the FSC has developed several training modules for different social groups. One of the week-long training programs for students held annually enjoys strong public support, which is why FSC has also developed shorter training modules within one or two days.

The current two-day program, implemented jointly with the Center for Continuing and Vocational Training to VUZF and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, is a pilot project for students from Sofia, with the prospects of including young people from all over the country. The program was divided into two parts: a theoretical and a practical one. In the first part, lecturers from VUZF and FSC gave presentations about the functioning and the specificity of the capital, insurance and pension insurance markets and the role and functions of the FSC to the students.

During the second day, the students paid a visit to the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, where experts explained to them practical aspects of the functioning of the market and the pupils had the opportunity to observe stock trading in real-time.

Later on, the participants in the program visited the Insurance Company „Interamerican“ and got acquainted with the specifics of the insurance business.

The training was attended by twenty students and four teachers who were extremely satisfied with the program and expressed their willingness to attend future training modules.