Social economy ecosystem in Bulgaria SULTANKA PETROVA Ph

Social economy ecosystem in Bulgaria SULTANKA PETROVA, Ph. D Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, Sofia

Political frame Governmental program for governance of the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 20172021 Priority: Achieving a higher standard of living through partnership with business, citizens and social partners. Aim: Improving the quality of life of groups through the development of the social economy and through transparent, socially responsible business practices. Measure: Creation of an environment which leads to contribution of social economy enterprises to around 2% of GDP High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, 2 Sofia

Political frame • • National Action Plan on Social Economy 2018 -2019 • • • Priorities Raising the awareness of stakeholders of the nature and functioning of social economy Establishing supportive structures for social economy and social enterprises Information support of social economy Creating favourable conditions for education, training and research in support of social economy Creating favourable environment, stimulating the development of social economy High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, 3 Sofia

Institutional recognition of social economy (1) The Council of Ministers adopted important political documents: • 2012 – National concept for social economy • 2014 – the First Action Plan for development of social economy 2014 -2015 г. • 2016 – second Action Plan for development of social economy 2016 -2017 г. • 2018 г- third Action Plan for development of social economy (2) Interinstitutional working group to the Minister of labour and social policy (3) Since 2015 in the Directorate “Strategic development and demographic policy – Department “Living standard, income from labour and social economy” – Ministry of labour and social policy (4) National and international seminars, new courses and bachelor and master programs at Universities are established (5) Local municipalities promote social enterprises in the form of public private partnerships High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, Sofia 4

Legal frame Draft law on the enterprises of social and solidarity economy Innovative measures • alternativeness of the criteria • categorization of social enterprises • platform for digitization of the social economy ecosystem High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, Sofia 5

Finance Grants Financial instruments Public Procurement Ø European structural funds - Operational programs; Operation „Development of social entrepreneurship“ - budget: 51 234 538, 91 lv. Ø Financial instruments – Fund “Manager” (1) Microcredit for Risk Sharing (Business Loan) (52, 8 million lv. Including 23 million lv. for social enterprises), and (2) Microcredit Guarantee (Guarantees) - 17, 2 million lv. Ø Public procurement – reserved contracts for specialized enterprises and cooperatives for people with disabilities High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, Sofia 6

Challenges At national level At local and regional level ü better understanding the different nature of social enterprises ü enhance their role as partners and in the dialog when public policies are prepared and implemented ü create adequate measures in response to the different needs of social enterprises in accordance with their stage of development – capacity building, finance etc. ü Markets ü Need for structures and instruments at regional level to support the social economy ü Development of neighborhood - regional relations in the field of social economy ü Better cooperation with corporate business ü Science and research in social economy – still underdeveloped High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, 7 Sofia

High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, Sofia 8

High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, Sofia 9

Thank you SULTANKA PETROVA, Ph. D Ministry of labour and social policy Bulgaria High-level conference “Social economy – for economically sustainable and socially inclusive EU”, 16 -17 April 2018, Sofia 10