site.btaBulgarian Officials Attend South-Eastern Europe Social Dialogue Summit in Thessaloniki

Bulgaria was represented at a regional meeting in Thessaloniki which discussed the role of economic and social councils (ESCs) as sources of sustainable solutions to the new challenges to integration in South-Eastern Europe, Bulgaria's ESC reported on Tuesday. The South-Eastern Europe Social Dialogue Summit 2023 provided an opportunity for ESCs in EU member states and candidate countries in the Balkans to share ideas about resolving regional conflicts, energy crises and climate issues.

Bulgaria's ESC President Zornitsa Rusinova moderated the first discussion panel on "Mitigating the Effects of the Energy Crisis: Joint Initiatives". Georgi Stoev of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who is an ESC member, was among the speakers at the third panel, titled "Regional Integration in South-Eastern Europe and the Process of Candidate Countries' Accession to the EU". Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria National Secretary and trade union representative in the country's ESC Ivanina Yankova presented the Bulgarian experience in the second panel, which was dubbed "Cooperation in the Energy Sector as a Chance for Sustainable Development".

The summit was attended by the ESC presidents of Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Serbia, members of the Greek government, local authorities, the European Economic and Social Committee, the International Labour Organization, the Union of the Mediterranean, and social partners. The event was opened by Greece's ESC President Ioannis Paidas and Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and Thessaloniki Mayor Konstantinos Zervas.

Bulgaria's and Greece's ESC presidents, Zornitsa Rusinova and Ioannis Paidas, signed a bilateral cooperation agreement.