Republic of Bulgaria Economic and Social Council 1000 Sofia, 22 Kn. Maria Louisa Blvd.,

ESC - characteristic The structure and functions of the Bulgarian Economic and Social Council are set up following the model and procedures of the European Economic and Social Committee National Council of Tripartite Co-operation still exists in Bulgaria.

Promoting the dialogue and co-operation with State Bodies Parliament President Government ESC Organisations of employers Organisations of employees Civil society organisations Public discussions Opinions Analyses Equality Pluralism Publicity

Actions to the Lisbon Strategy opinions public discussions seminars and workshops deliver information to a range civil society organisations and NGOs, aimed at increasing public awareness and their participation in the decision - making process

Activities - public discussions Agreement for collaboration between the ESC and the Council of European Integration at the Council of Ministers aimed at providing information on the decision making process of the Government on social and economic policy issues, fulfilling existing information gap by informing the civil society organisations on the EU accession process and the Lisbon Strategy How to develop a civil dialogue in the EU accession process - Seminar (March 2005) Participants - the Vice Premier, Mr.Plamen Panajotov,Minster of Labour and Social policy Mrs.H. Hristova, the EESC Member-Mr. Henry Malosse, the ESC Members, representatives of NGOs of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro

Discussion on the Government management program November 2005 Participants The Prime Minister, Mr. Sergej Stanishev, the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Georgi Pirinski, Deputy Premiers and Governments members, Presidency and the ESC Members. Prime Minister, Mr. S. Stanishev President of ESC, L.Dulevski Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. G. Pirinski

public discussion Objective - forcing the Lisbon Strategy implementation (December 2005) Result –adopted opinion by the ESC Plenary Session on The Lisbon Strategy of the EU and the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria for achieving competitive and prosperous economy.

public discussion on programming documents - National Development Plan,National Operative Programs (February 2006) Participants – ESC Members, the Minister of Finance, Deputy Ministries, Experts of ministries and media

public discussion Results involving socio-economic partners in programming and managing the European structural and cohesion funds. defying the responsibilities of the socio-economic partners in developing capacity for management and absorbing the European structural and cohesion funds outlining the priorities in the operative programs towards innovation, information based society, competitiveness and sustainable development, according to the Lisbon Strategy objectives defying a necessity to promote competitive export sectors based on innovation and IT

A ctivities – O pinions Competitiveness The EU Lisbon Strategy and the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria for achieving competitive and prosperous economy (own initiative opinion) (December 2005) Challenges faced by the tourism development and European integration (July 2005) Current issues of the textile industry and clothing in Bulgaria (own initiative opinion) (January 2005) Development of the human capital quality Problems of the vocational education and training in Bulgaria (November 2005) Demographic trends and the demography policy challenges (own initiative opinion) (March 2005)

The Lisbon Strategy of the EU and the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria for achieving competitive and prosperous economy Key recommendations to the Parliament, Government and President to launch a Lisbon National Reform Program for Growth and Competitiveness to improve synergy between the Strategy dimensions - economic, social and environment development to enhance competitiveness and growth jobs through innovation and R&D to promote export sectors to develop flexible labour market to promote education (link business and universities)

The problems of the vocational education and training in Bulgaria Recommendations to the Parliament, Government and President National Program for Human Capital Development long-term National Strategy for developing education National Strategy for vocational education and training (adapt education and training in response to labour market requirements) annual action education plans monitoring on development of education and training forcing public debates