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  • 22/02/2018

    BULGARIAN ESC: THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS

    We are facing a revolution that will radically change the way we live, work and treat one another. This is stated in an opinion on "The Future of Labour: Challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution" adopted by the Economic and Social Council. With this document ESC draws the attention of the institutions to the new challenges related to the digital transformation of the economy, which will change the Bulgarian economy as well. ESC is of the opinion that there will be changes in the state government and institutions, education, health care, transport, etc. The fourth industrial revolution is both an opportunity and a threat to producers and workers, the opinion argues.

  • 22/02/2018

    BULGARIAN ESC HELD A CONSULTATIONS ON WORK-BASED LEARNING

    The Economic and Social Council held consultations on issues related to the normative regulation of dual education or work-based learning. The consultation was requested by the Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev who, in a special letter to ESC, referred to the ESC Act and justified the need for a broad dialogue between stakeholders and institutions, in order to find the best solutions to the problems encountered in the process of establishing the new form of education - dual education. Minister Valchev stressed in the letter that the growing shortage of qualified workers with suitable professional training on the labour market requires the Ministry of Education and Science and other institutions to develop a regulatory framework that would create adequate conditions for the development of the new form of work-based learning. In response to this letter, ESC members met and discussed the topic with the teams of the three ministries led by the respective deputy ministers. The Ministry of Education and Science was represented by Deputy Minister Tanya Mihailova, The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy by Deputy Minister Lazar Lazarov, and the Ministry of Economy by Deputy Minister Lachezar Borisov.

  • 09/02/2018

    Mission of the European Labour Market Observatory studies measures and policies against long-term unemployment

    The two-day mission of the European Labour Market Observatory of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held meetings and discussions with various institutions and organizations to explore the application and results of The Council Recommendation of February 2016 for integration of the long-term unemployed into the labour market. The mission's special goal was to record good practices, experience and innovative methodologies in the involvement of civil society in the fight against long-term unemployment. One representative of each groups of the EESC was included in the mission. Representative of the group of employers was Georgi Stoev, the trade unions were represented by Dr. Ivan Kokalov, and the group with other interests - Prof. Dr. Lalko Dulevski. The mission was coordinated by the administrator of the Labor Market Observatory Anna Dumitrache.

  • 08/02/2018

    ESC: FOR BULGARIA THE ROAD TO THE EUROZONE IS THE ROAD OF REFORMS, STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY, COMPETITIVENESS AND INCREASING PERSONAL INCOMES

    The position of the Economic and Social Council (ESC) that Bulgaria needs to accelerate its preparations for joining the Eurozone, adopted with the full agreement of employers, trade unions and other non-governmental organizations, is based on the fact that Bulgaria fulfilled all requirements and criteria and now is the time to make the first steps towards the Eurozone. The opinion was presented today at a press conference with the Bulgarian News Agency.

  • 20/12/2017

    The Bulgarian ESC adopted an opinion on CETA

    The Economic and Social Council (ESC) passed late last night at its plenary session an opinion on the following subject: "Potential social, economic, environmental and consumer effects of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union ". In its opinion, ESC emphasizes its principle position for encouragement and development of the trade relations of Bulgaria and the EU with other developed economies in the world as a positive policy that the ESC fully supports. At the same time, according to the ESC, the potential risks to the competitiveness of Bulgarian and European businesses, as well as to the introduction of practices that would not be in line with EU social and economic achievements, should be carefully considered. Evaluating the scope of CETA, ESC draws attention in its document to its most important characteristics: the substance of the agreement, country investor dispute settlement mechanisms, defence of foreign investment, the impact of the agreement on public services, the labour market and employment, as well as on environmental standards, food safety and GMOs.

  • 20/12/2017

    The Bulgarian ESC: Early school leaving is a direct loss of public and human resources

    At its planned session on 13 November 2017 the Economic and Social Council adopted a resolution on "Early School Leaving - Problems and Possible Solutions". For ESC, the problem of early school leaving is of high social significance, and its implications affect almost all public systems - financial, social, domestic and security. ESC considers early school leaving as a direct loss of public resource. In a series of its already adopted acts, ESC stressed that people without education are highly threatened by the risk of poverty, of dropping out of the labour market, of "hereditary" poverty, unemployment, etc.

  • 04/12/2017

    Euromed Summit 2017 of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions - Conference 13/12/2017 14/12/2017

    The Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions bring together some 120 participants from a range of economic and social councils, or similar institutions, representatives of employers, trade unions, other economic and social interests groups and NGOs from countries which are members of the Union for the Mediterranean. This year, the Summit will focus on : Economic, Social and Cultural rights in the Mediterranean region Social Economy and entrepreneurship in the Euro Mediterranean region A new generation of women's rights It will conclude with the adoption of a final declaration that will be sent to the political authorities of the countries involved in the Euromed Ministerial Summits as civil society's contribution to their work, and disseminated widely amongst civil society organisations in the region.

  • 22/11/2017

    The role of EU civil society in a globalised world of communications

    The 11th Civil Society Media Seminar, which the European Economic and Social Committee is organising in cooperation with European institutions and with the support of the Spanish Economic and Social Council, the City of Madrid and the Estonian presidency, will take place in Madrid from 23 to 24 November 2017.

  • 30/10/2017

    ESC EXPRESSED ITS POSITION ON THE DIRECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE EU BY 2025

    In the context of public debates following the European Commission's White Paper and a series of reflection papers on the future of the European Union after Brexit, ESC has been actively involved in the EESC's debate on the subject this June in Sofia. At the same time, the future of Europe will be one of the important issues discussed during the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in 2018 and our country must have a clear position in this process.

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