site.btaBulgaria Participates in European Social Economy Meeting in Liege

Bulgaria plans to amend its legislation to enlarge the scope of social economy entities and promote their development, Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivanka Shalapatova told a European Social Economy Meeting in Liege, as quoted by her ministry on Tuesday. She said the idea is that Bulgaria should have more possibilities to support social entrepreneurship, more horizons for its development and greater visibility for its practices and outcomes.

The meeting proceeded under the motto "The Social Economy at the Core of Transitions". Dedicated to the inclusive, green and digital transitions, the two-day event (February 12-13) was an opportunity for the social economy to bring together practitioners, scientists, policy-makers and other stakeholders to discuss innovative, resilient and inspiring economic models for a more social and sustainable Europe.

Shalapatova said the Bulgarian government will help social enterprises become an integral part of the supply chains of conventional business, share in public-private partnerships and participate in public procurement. They will have more opportunities to receive funding and support from consortiums, business incubators and economic clusters.

At the forthcoming EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels in March, Bulgaria and Spain are expected to sign a memorandum of cooperation to develop the social economy by sharing practices and experience in promoting social enterprises. An international social economy hub will be established in Bulgaria later this year, according to the press release of the Labour and Social Policy Ministry.

Shalapatova handed over the presidency of the monitoring committee for the Luxembourg declaration on social enterprises from Bulgaria to Belgium, represented by Wallonia Region Vice President and Employment Minister Christie Morreale.