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

Structure The ESC is built upon the model of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Membership: a President and 36 members divided into 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 The mandate of the President and the members of the ESC is four years

Structure Managing Bodies The Plenary Session: comprised of the members of the ESC and the President The President: is in charge of the ESC’s activities and represents the Council The Presidents Board: comprised of the President and three Vice Presidents – one for each of the three groups

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

Key Work Principles Independence in the ESC there are no representatives of the legislative and executive powers or of other state institutions the state and municipal bodies are obliged to provide the information necessary for the work of the ESC (Art.6 of the ESC Act) Consensus: opinions and other acts of the ESC are approved by majority of no less than three thirds of the members present the decisions of the Presidents Board are adopted by unanimity

Key Work Principles Equality between the three groups at the ESC Cooperation and interaction with the state institutions and with the other civil organisations which are not represented in the ESC institutions are required to invite representatives of the ESC when discussing or deciding on issues included in acts adopted by the ESC (Article 5 of the ESC Act)

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

Working Methods The President of the ESC assigns the proposals for developing opinions to the commissions The commission appoints a rapporteur and external experts The commission draws up and adopts the draft opinions after consultations with a wide range of state institutions and civil organisations The Plenary Session adopts the opinions. The President submits them to the President of the Republic, the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers and other stakeholders.

New Forms 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 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 outline also 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/

Next Public Consultations 10 June 2008 — Public consultation on the ESC’s opinion on “The Challenges of Absorbing EU Funds: financial perspective (2007-2013) /proposed by the ESC/ 16 September 2008 — Public consultation on “Good Parenthood and Childcare” /proposed by the President of the Republic/

Public Interest In ESC’ Activities The ESC’s 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

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 behalft of the EESC

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