ZORNITSA ROUSSINOVA OPENED THE FIRST PLENARY SESSION OF THE ESC FOR THE NEW TERM

Today, 25 January 2021, Zornitsa Roussinova - President of the Economic and Social Council (ESC), opened the first plenary session of the new Economic and Social Council. The council's four-year mandate begins on 25 January. Bulgaria faces economic and social challenges, but the Economic and Social Council will contribute at national and European levels to facilitate economic recovery, the creation of jobs, increasing people's incomes, said at the opening of the session ESC President Zornitsa Roussinova.

The President of the National Assembly Tsveta Karayancheva congratulated the new President of the ESC Zornitsa Roussinova and the members of the ESC, emphasising that the diverse expert potential of the Council and its direct relationship with citizens is an important mechanism and part of the democratic process of legislative and administrative decisions. The President of the National Assembly asked for even more active participation of ESC in the social development following its basic principle - consent and unity for the good of Bulgaria.

The EU Commissioners Mariya Gabriel - Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Nicolas Schmit - Jobs and Social Rights participated in first plenary session. They highlighted the role of the civil parliament in achieving the goals of the European Union. Mariya Gabriel underscored the need for the cooperation of all European citizens and institutions to build a just future, a fair transition to a green economy and rapid digitisation. Nicolas Schmit stressed on the role of social dialogue in the process of rebuilding jobs after the coronavirus crisis, in creating new quality jobs and especially in expanding youth employment opportunities through EU programmes.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev also attended the plenary session. He stressed that many of ESC's proposals have been adopted in the new version of Bulgaria's Recovery and Resilience Plan. Citizens now want not only to know, but also to participate in governance and the decision-making processes, he said. Therefore, the role of ESC is to ensure new forms of civil dialogue and to engage people in the decision-making process so that political decisions are better.

Zornitsa Roussinova proposed to formulate thematic framework for the activities of ESC for the entire four-year term as each of the groups highlighted its own specific topics related to the development of Bulgaria. At the next February session, ESC is to construct its standing commissions and adopt the plan for the activities of the council for 2021.

Vasil Velev - from the group of employers, Plamen Dimitrov - from the group of workers and Lydia Shouleva - from the group of civil organisations with other interests - were confirmed as vice-presidents of the ESC.
ESC members expressed their gratitude to the former President of ESC Prof. Lalko Dulevski for his work for the development of civil dialogue.