site.btaBulgarian Industrial Association: Responsible Business Conduct Standards Should Be Viewed Opportunity, Not Administrative Burden

Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) standards should be viewed as an opportunity rather than as an administrative burden, Bulgarian Industrial Association - Union of the Bulgarian Business (BIA) Vice President Stanislav Popdonchev said, addressing the Green Transition Forum 6.0 here on Tuesday.

According to BIA, the implementation of the RBC standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development brings at least three strategic benefits to Bulgarian companies. These include access to global value chains, an improvement of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating, and easier access to investments, as well as better risk management and confidence building, the speaker said.

In Popdonchev's words, despite the potential benefits, the situation for small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria remains complicated. Among the major problems, he listed regulatory overload and administrative pressure, a lack of administrative and expert capacity, certification and audit costs, and the risk of sanctions, unpredictable requirements, and abuse of complaint mechanisms. 

The sixth edition of the Green Transition Forum is taking place in Sofia from June 1 to 5 under the motto "Europe's Next Chapter – Competitive. Innovative. Secure".

The 2026 edition focuses on Europe's new strategic agenda and examines how the European Union can translate its long-term priorities into concrete action through stronger competitiveness, faster innovation, and enhanced security in an increasingly dynamic global environment.

The forum is organized by Dir.bg in cooperation with the Bulgarian-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. BTA is a media partner of the event.