Representation of the European Commission was informed of the threat small and medium-sized business to remain without representative in the tripartite dialogue

 

On 3rd January 2012, the President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov met with Mrs. Zinaida Zlatanova, Head of the Representation Office of the European Commission in Bulgaria.

The meeting was focused on discussing the possibilities for participation of BCCI in the national debate on Europe 2020 Strategy, the Lisbon Treaty and the new financial framework of the European Union. Mrs. Zlatanova proposed the Chamber and the Representation to jointly organize a conference with the participation of experts from DG “Trade” to introduce the business to existing agreements with third countries. BCCI undertook to conduct a preliminary survey among its members and sectorial organizations about the level of awareness of business in this respect. The results of the survey will be used when determining the agenda of the conference.

Issues related to the participation of BCCI in the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation, as well as the threat of depriving small and medium-sized business of representation in the tripartite dialogue in the context of the amendments to the Labour Code were discussed. EU enactments concerning the criteria for choice and representation of the social partners on European level were also discussed with Mrs. Zlatanova. She expressed her firm confidence that the amendments violate the principles of EU policy for promotion of public-private partnership and outsourcing of administrative functions to professional organizations in order to relieve public administration of tasks, which are not typical for it. Besides, it was expressly emphasized that this approach of excluding organizations representing a wide scope of businesses contradicts positive European practices. With regard to this, Mrs. Zlatanova noted that the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and the Director General of DG “Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion” should be informed. 

03.01.2012