Prof. Lalko Dulevski President of the ESC of Bulgaria The Role of the Economic and Social Council of Bulgaria for the Development of a New Model of Civil Dialogue and Consultations Prof. Lalko Dulevski President of the ESC of Bulgaria

Prerequisites Strong will and support from the social partners (trade unions and employers’ organisations); Effectively functioning European Union-Bulgaria Joint Consultative Committee; Economic and Social Council Act adopted in 2001, amended in March 2003 and April 2008; The role of the pre-accession process and commitments of the country to establishing the democratic institutions of civil society; Political consensus on the necessity of an Economic and Social Council (ESC).

The Beginning On 10 December 2003 the First Plenary Session of the ESC was held; On 24 April 2008 the First Plenary Session of the 2nd mandate of the ESC was held; The mandate of the President and the members of the ESC is four years.

Structure The ESC is built upon the model of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC); The ESC of Bulgaria is a unique institution of a new type; The ESC is a new qualitative step through which the civil dialogue was recognized as a continuation and expansion of social dialogue; The ESC is independent of the executive and legislative powers - it is free of representatives of the legislative and executive authorities; Consensus on the most significant economic and social decisions on the government of the country.

Structure Composition - three groups: The first group: consists of 12 members appointed by the governing bodies of the nationally representative organisations of employers; The second group: consists of 12 members appointed by the governing bodies of the nationally representative trade unions; The third group: consists of 12 members who represent organisations with common socio-economic interests, such as organisations of craftsmen, people with disabilities, women, consumers, agricultural producers and other; Key principle - Equality between the three groups in the ESC.

Structure Standing Commissions International Co-operation and European Integration; Economic Policy; Budget, Finances, Insurance, and Social Security; Income, Living Standards and Industrial Relations; Social Policy; Regional Policy, Environment and Sustainability; When needed, temporary commissions are established; Commissions draw up and adopt draft opinions; The activities of the ESC are supported by an administration.

Working Methods The ESC is the permanent institutional form of civil dialogue and consultations between the civil society organisations and the President of the Republic, the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers; Main forms of activity: adoption of opinions, analyses and resolutions; organising public discussions and consultations with the legislative and executive powers and civil society organisations on strategic socio-economic issues.

Working Methods The ESC draws up opinions, analyses and resolutions on: Draft laws, national programmes and plans; National Assembly’s acts; Strategic problems of economic and social policy. The opinions of the ESC are drawn up upon proposals of: The President of the Republic; The President of the National Assembly; The Council of Ministers; The ESC has the right to draw up opinions on its own initiative.

New Forms for Promoting Civil Dialogue Active participation of representatives of the third sector organisations in drawing up ESC documents; Interaction with other civil organisations, non-represented in the ESC - participation of their experts in the development of opinions, analyses and resolutions of the ESC; The ESC is open to the representatives of scientific fields – involving them when drawing up the ESC documents; Holding conferences and roundtables.

New Forms for Promoting Civil Dialogue Open public discussions and consultations between the ESC, on the one hand, and the institutions of the legislative and executive powers, on the other hand. (Article 4 of the ESC Act); The discussions and consultations are open to civil organisations and the media.

Organisation of the Public Consultations: The Bulgarian Model Public consultations with the executive and legislative authorities - an example of good practices in broadening civil dialogue; Public consultations differ as a form from the public discussions, conferences and roundtables; Public consultations are conducted at the request of the ESC, the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers or the President of the Republic; The consultations are organised on strategic economic and social issues upon the proposal of the initiating institution.

Organisation of the Public Consultations When the public consultations are organised by the ESC, the Council presents an adopted opinion or its agreed position; During these public consultations a consensus is sought between the positions of the ESC and the main state institutions; The public consultations also outline the principal differences between the ESC and the state institutions’ positions.

Organised Public Consultations Public consultation on the draft four-year Government’s Programme /proposed by the Council of Ministers/; Public consultation on the Opinion adopted by the Council on the Pension System in Bulgaria /proposed by the ESC/; Public consultation on the draft Income Policy Strategy 2007-2009 /proposed by the Council of Ministers/; Public consultation on the National Development Plan /2007-2013/ and Operative Programmes /proposed by the ESC/.

Organised Public Consultations Public consultation on the ESC opinion on Draft of a National Reform Programme of the Republic of Bulgaria (2006 -2009) “Growth and Jobs” /developed on the suggestion of the Council of Ministers/; Public consultation on the ESC opinion on Measures for improving legal security of consumers /proposed by the ESC/ - with the participation of EU Commissioner Mrs. Meglena Kuneva; Public consultation on the ESC opinion on “The Challenges of Absorbing EU Funds: financial perspective (2007-2013) /proposed by the ESC/ - with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plugchieva.

Next Public Consultations 16 September 2008 — Public consultation on “Good Parenthood and Childcare” /proposed by the President of the Republic/, with the participation of the French ESC; 24 September 2008 — Public consultation on “The Renewed Lisbon Strategy /2008-2010/: Challenges and Prospects for Bulgaria” /proposed by the ESC/.

Effects from the ESC activity 27 opinions, analyses and resolutions have been adopted since the establishment of the ESC up to now; More than 600 proposals submitted to the executive and legislative authorities concerning decisions on the strategic economic and social issues for the country.

Effects from the ESC activity Institutions are obliged to invite representatives of the Council when discussing or deciding on issues included in the ESC opinions (ESC Act, April 2008); In several ministries workgroups were created with the participation of ESC representatives to make decisions on the Council’s proposals: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy – Pension System Group; Ministry of Health – National Health Strategy Group; Ministry of Economy and Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy – Operative Programmes Groups.

Effects from the ESC activity Basic proposals have been implemented in: The Governance Programme of the Government; National Demographic Strategy; National Development Plan; National Health Strategy; National Reform Programme; National Strategy on Migration and Integration; Draft Laws of the National Assembly; Documents related to the absorption of EU funds.

Some Specific Examples The ESC has proposed drawing up a national strategy on population development and its qualitative reproduction. Result: a National Strategy for Demographic Development of Bulgaria 2006-2020 have been adopted. The ESC has proposed adopting a long-term National Strategy for the Development of Education in Bulgaria and undertaking measures to involve business, state institutions and other stakeholders in accelerating the implementation of the strategy for lifelong learning. Result: a National Strategy for Continuing Vocational Training to 2010 has been adopted.

Some Specific Examples The ESC has proposed establishing a fund entitled “Investment in Youth” to accumulate resources for higher educational degrees and better qualifications for Bulgarian youth. Result: in the state budget 2008 some resources are foreseen for similar objectives. The ESC has proposed establishing a separate state institution on migration to ensure monitoring of the migration processes and adopting a Strategy on Migration. Result: The Council of Ministers has adopted a National Strategy on Migration and integration /2008-2015/.

Some Specific Examples The ESC has proposed the partial introduction of a regulated voucher system at universities, colleges and vocational schools and creating a competitive environment in the educational system. Result: in 2008 the government is going to apply similar measures. The ESC has made 17 proposals on the Draft National Health Strategy. Result: 16 of them have been implemented in the strategy. The ESC has made proposals on improving the practice related to the EU funds absorption. Result: workgroups in several ministries; ESC proposals taken into consideration.

Public Interest In ESC Activities The ESC proposals arouse broad public interest, which is evidence of the particular public sensitivity to the issues discussed; The ESC cooperates with various state institutions, organises public consultations, forums and discussions on economic and social issues and on the main state strategic documents; These are broadly covered by the media, whereby for 2007 there were over 400 publications of the Council’s activities in various print and electronic media; Relations with the Media - Holding regular meetings, press conferences, seminars, etc.

Why Did We Succeed? Very strong will, dialogue and consensus among the members of the ESC; Political consensus in the country on the place and role of the ESC; Support on the part of the institutions in the country, of Bulgarian science and Bulgarian civil society organisations; Very close cooperation and support on behalf of the EESC.

Thank you for your attention! More information at www.esc.bg