Prof. Lalko DULEVSKI
President of the ESC of Bulgaria
Ad hoc group Europe 2020 Steering Committee, 08.06.2011, Brussels
Two key aspects of the dialogue within the Europe 2020
Strategy: social dialogue and civil dialogue
1. Social dialogue: Consultations and bargaining of concrete measures and
legislative initiatives mostly in the field of living standards, labour and
industrial relations and labour market.
Main levels of social dialogue:
 national level – National Council for Tripartite Cooperation /government,
employers, trade unions/
 branch/sectoral level – sectoral/ branch councils for tripartite or bipartite
cooperation /employers and trade unions/
 local level – municipality councils for tripartite cooperation /local authority,
employers and trade unions/
Two key aspects of the dialogue within the Europe 2020
Strategy: social dialogue and civil dialogue
2. Civil Dialogue
 The Economic and Social Council /ESC/ is a permanent legally
regulated form of the organised civil society dialogue in Bulgaria.
 ESC adopts opinions, analyses and resolutions as well as holds public
consultations on key strategic issues and policies upon a proposal of
the President of the Republic, the Chairman of the National Assembly,
the Council of Ministers or on its own initiative.
 ESC is а main partner of the government and the National Assembly
in the consultative process regarding the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Two key aspects of the dialogue within the Europe 2020
Strategy: social dialogue and civil dialogue
ESC basic principles of work
 Independence:
ESC consists of three groups which are representatives of the organised
civil society – employers, trade unions and various civil organisations with
common interest
The government or other state institution are not represented in the ESC.
 Equality:
Each of the three groups is consisted of equal number of members.
 Consensus:
The acts of the ESC are adopted by majority at least 75% of the votes
received by the members.
The President Board decisions are adopted unanimously.
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
1. In 2010 the ESC adopted basic opinions on strategic issues and
priorities of the Bulgarian economy, labour market, social security and
protection, health care system and others.
2. A number of anti-crisis measures and recommendations for socio and
economic development of the country were proposed by the council
to the Bulgarian government and National Assembly.
Outcomes:
 Main ESC recommendations were included in the anti-crisis measures
negotiated between the government, trade unions and employers.
 ESC has been determined by the government as a main institution for
consultations on the National Development Programme: Bulgaria
2020.
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
3. In September 2010, the ESC developed and adopted upon a proposal
of the President of the Republic a special opinion on the “Strategic
priorities for the Bulgarian economy within the Europe 2020 Strategy”.
Outcomes:
 In October 2010, a broad public consultation was held on an opinion
of the ESC with the participation of the President of the Republic,
government, Bulgarian National Bank, civil and scientist organisations,
experts.
 The Bulgarian government has included the main recommendation of
the ESC opinion in the National Reform Programme: Reaching GDP
at purchasing power parity per capita of 60 percent of the average
European Union until 2020.
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
4. In March 2011, the ESC adopted a resolution on the Draft National
Reform Programme. The resolution was sent to the national and
European institutions.
Outcomes:
 A consultation has taken place
between
the
government
representatives and the ESC on
the recommendations from the
resolution.
Marinela Petrova, Head of the NRP Working
Group, and Mariy Kosev, Deputy Minister of
Economy, Energy and Tourism, at the ESC
Plenary session
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
Outcomes:
 The Bulgarian government has
taken into consideration the main
ESC recommendations in the final
adoption of the National Reform
Programme.
 A letter has been received to the
ESC from the Ministry of Finance,
which has informed for concrete
recommendations of the ESC
resolution incorporated in the final
document
adopted
by
the
government.
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
Outcomes:
 ESC received a reply on
behalf of the President of
the European Commission
José Manuel Barroso with
regard to the council
resolution.
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
Outcomes:
 A letter to the ESC has been
received
by
the
EU
Commissioner
Kristalina
Georgieva.
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
Outcomes:
 ESC appreciates the received
letter from the President of the
EESC, Staffan Nilsson and the
President of the Europe 2020
Steering Committee, Joost van
IERSEL as a sign of fruitful
cooperation between the ESC
and the EESC.
Main ESC activities within the Europe 2020 Strategy
5. In April 2011, the ESC adopted a resolution “Demographic challenges
to Bulgaria within the Europe 2020 Strategy”.
Outcomes:
 The Action Plan with measures, set out in the NRP /2011-2015/, is
provided for updating the National Strategy for Demographic
Development of the Republic of Bulgaria 2020.
 The resolution has received very broad public and media response
/over 120 print and electronic publications/
Future Activities of the ESC in 2011 regarding the
Implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy
 Elaboration and adoption of opinions and resolutions on major topics
directions of the Europe 2020 Strategy
 Achieving an agreement for mutual activities between the ESC and
the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria in the monitoring process
of the implementation of the National Reform Programme.
Future Activities of the ESC in 2011 regarding the
Implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy
 Organisation of a public discussion in cooperation with the Bulgarian
government and the European Commission Representation in
Bulgaria on the recommendations of the European Commission on
the National Reform Programme /2011-2015/ and the Convergence
Programme /2011-2014/.
 Organisation of an international conference on the issues of
demographic development and labour market in the context of the
Europe 2020 Strategy.
Future Activities of the ESC in 2011 regarding the
Implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy
 Participation in the consultations on the development of the National
Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020.
 Organisation of regional consultative meetings with representatives of
the civil society organisations, local authorities, social partners and
others on issues of the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
 Organisation of consultative meetings with the standing committees of
the National Assembly committed to the implementation of key
objectives in the Europe 2020 Strategy.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
http://www.esc.bg
Ad hoc group Europe 2020 Steering Committee, 08.06.2011, Brussels