1. 15/11/2007 Republic of Bulgaria Economic and Social Council Lalko Dulevski Ph.D. President

2. 15/11/2007 Introduction The Economic and Social Council (ESC) was established under the Law 41/2001 of 26 April, as an independent consultative body for expressing the will and interests of the structures of the civil society. It is a forum for consultation on economic and social policies and for reenforcement of the participation of the structures of the civil society in the economic and social life. It starts its activities in the last quarter of 2003. www.esc.bg

3. 15/11/2007 Mission  The Economic and Social Council (ESC) is a permanent institutional form of the social dialogue between the President of the Republic, the Parliament and the Council of Ministers, on the one hand, and the structures of the civil society, on the other hand, dealing with the country’s major economic and social issues. It is a public body aimed to develop and implement new approaches of social dialogue such as co- operation, negotiation in decision making process, expressing the interests of a range of social partners and civil society structures.  The aim of the Council is to provide the participation of a wide cycle of representatives of the civil society in the public and economic life. It has to answer to the legal aspirations of the social and economic groups, and to express opinions, statements and proposals regarding the acts of the legislative and executive authorities having impact on their interests. The ESC submits opinions on legislation and main issues of economic and social policies. The statements are prepared upon the request of the President of the Republic, the President of the Parliament and the Council of Ministers, or on its own initiative. www.esc.bg

4. 15/11/2007 Membership  The Economic and Social Council (ESC) comprises the President and 36 members divided into three groups:  The first group consists of 12 members appointed by the governing bodies of the representative organisations of the employers on a national level acknowledged by the Council of Ministers under the regulations of the Labour Code. www.esc.bg

5. 15/11/2007 Membership  The second group consists of 12 members appointed by the governing bodies of the representative organisations of the workers and employees on a national level acknowledged by the Council of Ministers under the regulations of the Labour Code. www.esc.bg

6. 15/11/2007 Membership  The third group consists of 12 members: one representative of the organisations of the agricultural producers; one representative of the organisations of the cooperatives; one representative of the organisations of the craftsmen; one representative of the organisations of the professional branch organisations; one representative of the organisations of the consumers; one representative of the organisations of the women; one representative of the organisations of the ecological organisations; one representative of the organisations of the retired; one representative of the organisations of the disabled; one representative of the organisations supporting the socially weak, disabled or the persons needing care; two independent scientists –specialists on the issues of the economic and social policy appointed by the Council of Ministers upon proposal of the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Labour and Social Policy. www.esc.bg

7. 15/11/2007 Membership  President - The President is elected by the Parliament, upon a proposal of the Council of Ministers, previously coordinated with the group represented in the Council.  The mandate of the President and Council's members is for four years. www.esc.bg

8. 15/11/2007 Organisation  The ESC managing bodies are the Plenary Session, the President and the Presidents Board.  The Plenary session comprises all the ESC members and the President.  The President is responsible for overall Council’s activities and officially he represents it.  The Presidents Board consists of the President and three Vice Presidents, nominated by the each one of the three groups. www.esc.bg

9. 15/11/2007 Organisation  Standing and Temporary Committees are organized in compliance with the Rules of procedures for the activities of the Council. The Plenary Session elects the chairs and members of the Standing Committee. The Standing Committees are as follows: Economic Policy Committee is dealing with the major issues of the macroeconomic policy, economic growth, sustainable development, regional and structural policies, competitiveness, SMEs, etc. Budget, Finance, Insurance and Social Security Committee is dealing with major issues of the budget, taxation policy, financial markets, monetary policy, social security and insurance. www.esc.bg

10. 15/11/2007 Organisation Social Policy Committee is dealing with the major issues of demographic and family policy, public healthcare, education, equal opportunities and equal treatment, minorities, social exclusion and disadvantaged groups, social services, culture, etc. Labour, Income, living Standards and Industrial Relations Committee is dealing with the major issues of employment and labour market, working conditions, vocational training, life-long learning, industrial relations, income, etc. International Co-operation and European Integration Committee. www.esc.bg

11. 15/11/2007 Plenary Sessions  The 1 st Plenary Session was held on December 10 th, 2003 and this is the date of establishing of all managing bodies of the Council.  Up to the present moment, 25 Plenary Sessions of the Council have been held. During these sessions have been approved the basic internal regulatory documents, the Rules of procedure, Annual Budgets, Annual Action Plans and Annual Reports, etc. www.esc.bg

12. 15/11/2007 Opinions  Up to the present moment, the Council have adopted 22 opinions on its own initiative when four of them were drawn upon request by the President of the Republic and the National Assembly.  The opinions consider issues facing Bulgaria as during the EU accession period as after the country becomes a full-fledged member of the EU. The Lisbon Strategy matters and the policy of Bulgaria were also considered in the ESC opinion. www.esc.bg

13. 15/11/2007 Opinions  Some of the ESC opinions are as follows:  Current Issues of Health Insurance;  National Report of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on the Implementation of the European Social Charter (revised);  Problems of Textile and Apparel in Bulgaria  Demographic Trends and Challenges to the Demographic Policy of Bulgaria;  Challenges to Bulgarian Tourism In the Process of European Integration;  Opinion on the draft for the amendment and supplement of the Social Insurance Code (No 554-01-47, presented by a group of MPs);  Consequences from the energy price shock and measures for its mitigation  Vocational Education and Training Issues in Bulgaria  Lisbon Strategy of the European Union and the Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Achievement of Competitive and Prosperous Economy;  Problems of Industry in Bulgaria’s European Union Accession Process;  Project on National Healthcare Strategy 2007-2012, prepared by the Ministry of Health;  Challenges facing the agriculture in EU joining of Bulgaria;  Healthy and safe working conditions – socio-economic issues;  Opinion on the draft of a National Reform Programme of the Republic of Bulgaria (2006 – 2009 ) “Growth and Jobs”  Measures to Improve Legal Protection of Consumers  Family, Good Parenting and Equal Gender Opportunities  Health Act Amendment Bill  Expanding opportunities for participation into the social security system for persons born before 1 January 1960 www.esc.bg

14. 15/11/2007 Institutional Capacity Building  Basic internal regulatory documents have been approved for setting up the activities of the Economic and Social Council and its administration.  Relationship of the Council has been established with the Presidency, the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers.  At the end of April 2004, the Government took a decision to provide offices to the Council in the central part of the city of Sofia.  The official Website of the Council was created, thus giving an access the public of its activities.  A trial Bulletin of the Economic and Social Council is in a process of preparation. www.esc.bg

15. 15/11/2007 Institutional Capacity Building  The EESC organization and Rules of procedure have been explored and important part of them has been put into the Rules of procedure of the Bulgarian Economic and Social Council.  Required steps forward have been done for including ESC in a TWINNING programme of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Thus, an opportunity will be given for studying the experience of some leading national economic and social council in Europe and for training members and staff of the Council.  Members of the Council and representatives of the administration attended a range of seminars and conferences organised by some Ministries and social partners.  Arrangements are going on for the organisation of seminars on team building, working with civil society organisations, development of social dialogue forms, etc www.esc.bg

16. 15/11/2007 International Relations  First relations between the European Economic and Social Committee and the Bulgarian Economic and Social Council have been established a few days after the President of the Bulgarian ESC was elected by the Parliament, when Mr. Henri Malosse and Mr. Jacques Kemp arrived in Bulgaria.  In the last quarter of 2003 official relations have been established with the European delegation to the JCC EU-Bulgaria, during the 9 th JCC meeting in the town of Bankya.  At the end of February, a delegation of the Bulgarian ESC visited the EESC and held a meeting with the EESC President, Mr. Roger Briesch. This visit was extremely useful also from viewpoint of exploring the experience and practices of the Committee.  In April 2004 a delegation from the EESC visited the Bulgarian ESC and attended its 6 th Plenary Session when the Council approved an opinion on current issues of the health insurance. The European delegation attended a meeting with civil society representatives in Plovdiv and held working meetings with the Bulgarian delegation to the JCC EU-Bulgaria. www.esc.bg

17. 15/11/2007 International Relations  The EESC President, Mr. Roger Briesch, visited Bulgaria from 7 th to 9 th June, 2004. He delivered a public speech in the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) and held a meeting with the Members of the Council. Mr. Briesch has been received by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria and by other representatives of the Bulgarian authorities.  Upon the invitation of the President of the Bulgarian ESC, Mr. Jacques Dermagne, President of Economic and Social Council of France and President of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS), visited Bulgaria on 15 th and 16 th July, 2004.  Since July 2005, the ESC of Bulgaria is formally an active member of the Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS). www.esc.bg

18. 15/11/2007 International Relations  Upon the invitation of the ESC President, Mrs. Anne-Marie Sigmund, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Mr. Patrick Venturini, the EESC Secretary General, visited Bulgaria on 3 rd and 4 th April, 2006 and took part in the ESC Plenary Session  The President of the Council attended the Annual Meeting of Presidents of the EESC and ESCs of the EU Member-states, held in Luxembourg where was approved a Declaration on the European Social Model in the context of the Lisbon Strategy.  On 2 nd October 2006, the ESC of Bulgaria with the active collaboration of the EESC held an international conference on The European Social Model and Challenges Facing Bulgaria www.esc.bg

19. 15/11/2007 Next Steps Forward  Developing relationships and contacts of the Council with other civil society organisations, non-represented in the Council. Setting up two or three regional meetings with civil society structures, as well as initiating direct contacts or relationship through Internet with these structures.  Organising seminars and trainings of civil society representatives on main topics related to the accession of Bulgaria in the European Union. Such a topic is on the pre-accession financial support and structural funds, subject of the joint report of the JCC. The Economic and Social Council, through its experts and social partners’ experts, shall provide information and training of the civil society organisations with regard to the possibilities of implementing the EU financial support. This way, a closer co-ordination between the JCC EU-Bulgaria and the ESC shall be provided and the Council shall facilitate the dissemination of the reports and decisions taken among the Bulgarian society. www.esc.bg

20. 15/11/2007 Next Steps Forward  Developing of bilateral co-operation between ESC and other national ESCs in the EU Member-states.  Initiating a regional international exchange of experience in the area of involvement of the civil society in the social dialogue.  Exploring possibilities and providing financial resources for training of Council’s members and its administration through study visits and skills improvement workshops in other similar institutions and in the EESC. To these purposes, the efforts are focused on exploring possibilities for foreign resources of funding some specific programmes or based on bilateral co-operation. www.esc.bg

21. 15/11/2007 Conclusion  We are fully aware that we are in the very beginning and the challenges we are facing are big.  Despite this, we have no time for hesitations and failures. Difficulties to face shall be more and more, but I strongly believe in decisiveness of my colleagues, as well as in the support on behalf of the EESC which is of a huge importance to us. We are supposed to make together of the Bulgarian ESC a real civil parliament of the country.  This success is needed by Bulgaria and the European Union, as well.  Bulgarian civil society deserves this success. www.esc.bg

22. 15/11/2007 Thank you for your attention www.esc.bg Lalko Dulevski Ph.D. President