Association of the Organization of the Bulgarian Employers  (AOBE) announced its main priorities for 2021. This took place at an official press conference attended by the heads of the four nationally representative employers’ organizations, AOBE members – Vassil Velev, chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association; Radosvet Radev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce; Tsvetan Simeonov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Kiril Domuschiev, Chairman of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria.

The organization will work on 47 measures in six key areas for the Bulgarian economy, including business environment, energy, human resources, capital market, European policies and investments. Bulgaria’s accession to the OECD and the Schengen area was declared a top national priority, including active work for Bulgaria’s more recent accession to the Eurozone.

“Traditionally, at the beginning of each year, AOBE presents its priorities. In them you will not see anti-crisis measures, but on the contrary measures aimed at improving the business environment and increasing the competitiveness of Bulgarian enterprises and the economy. And since this year is an election, we unanimously decided to invite the parties and coalitions that sociological agencies give a chance to enter parliament to learn about their priorities and business expectations, “said the rotating chairman of AOBE for this year Vassil Velev.

The chairman of BIA Radosvet Radev noted that it is essential for improving the business environment in our country to preserve the existing tax model and reduce its share, redistributed through the state budget. As another important focus, he pointed out the reduction of the regulatory burden on companies’ business to the minimum required by the EU. According to him, Bulgarian business wants the fastest possible construction of e-government, as well as expanding the scope of tacit consent.

“2020 has shown us how great the need for e-government is so that we can get through such crises a little easier. The slowdown in measures and the deterioration of the business environment are largely due to the poor performance of institutions. This is shown by the data from the BIA survey. 70 percent of the respondents answered that the economic indicators of their companies have deteriorated, and 56% will postpone all their investments “, added Radosvet Radev.

According to him, there is a need to improve the rules for legitimizing the nationally representative organizations of workers and employers. AOBE believes that the procedure should be done every 7 years, and not as it is now every 4 years, he added.

The rotating chairman of AOBR for 2020 Kiril Domuschiev pointed out that energy is among the most serious problems for Bulgarian business. “Unfortunately, last year we failed to finalize the much-needed reform in the sector and in 2021 we will continue to insist on its implementation. Energy is among our main priorities, as it plays an exceptional role in increasing the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy, “said the chairman of CEIB.

According to Kiril Domuschiev, AOBE will insist on the preparation and signing of a National Agreement for Ensuring Liquidity on the Electricity Market on the Day Ahead Market, which will include producers from the BEH Group, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance and nationally representative trade unions and employers’ organizations.

Among the other priorities in the Energy sector, the CEIB Chairman also pointed out the adoption of a balancing national strategy until 2030, notification and holding of a tender for capacities and settlement of relations under long-term electricity purchase contracts between NEK and the so-called US power plants in accordance with EU state aid rules, increasing the capacity and activity of the EWRC to investigate and sanction market abuse and market concentration, unification of the Bulgarian with the European electricity market. Kiril Domuschiev also focused on promoting the production and storage of electricity from renewable energy sources for own needs, as well as on the adoption of legal changes for full liberalization of the electricity market.

Despite the temporary difficulties of some businesses, as a result of COVID-19, AOBE members believe that in a few months, businesses will again begin to experience staff shortages. “Human resources are an important element of industrial policy. This year, they must make every effort to develop policies to detain workers who have returned from abroad due to the crisis. They should be related to facilitating the restoration of their civil status, construction of additional kindergartens for their children, etc., “said the chairman of the BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov.

He added that employers’ organizations will continue to work to make changes to the Higher Education Act, through which the admission plan in schools to be brought to the needs of the economy, as well as to accelerate reforms in the education system with a focus on vocational education. and expanding skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

As very important measures Tsvetan Simeonov stressed the expansion of the functions of the Employment Agency in order to facilitate the import of workers and specialists from third countries, as well as easing the regulations to facilitate access to our country and the Bulgarian labor market of foreign workers. and specialists of Bulgarian origin. The President of the BCCI stated that the demands for the abolition of the minimum insurance income and the obligations of the employer to pay for the first three days of sick leave are also among the priorities for 2021.

Vassil Velev, who this year is the rotating chairman of AOBE, pointed out that the Association insists on active participation in the updating and adoption of the Plan for Recovery and Sustainability of Bulgaria, as well as to participate in the mechanism for its implementation and monitoring. “Businesses expect at least 25%, and not commented so far from 3 to 8 percent, of the funds under the Plan to be directed to support investments in existing enterprises. These enterprises that feed the people and fill the country’s budget today, “added Vasil Velev. According to him, Bulgaria must have a national position on the implementation of the European green deal, through which to ensure a fair, smooth and consistent with the specifics of our country transition to a low-carbon economy.

The capital market is also among the priorities for 2021. According to the chairman of BICA, the four nationally represented employers’ organizations will work to prevent attempts at state control over private listed companies by expropriating inactive shares. Vassil Velev added that Bulgaria needs to seriously improve the regulations in order to limit over-regulation and to simplify and automate procedures, as well as to improve the conditions for financing SMEs through the capital market. AOBE also proposes an assessment of the potential for listing of minority shares in state-owned companies and raising financial resources for the implementation of large infrastructure projects through the capital market and improving the corporate governance of public enterprises.

AOBR unites the nationally representative employers’ organizations BICA, BIA, BCCI and CEIB. The main goal of the organization is to consolidate, balance and represent the interests of its members. Employees in the enterprises that are members of the four employers’ organizations employ 82% of all employees in Bulgaria, and the gross value added they produce is 86%.

Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) wants a predictable and in line with global trends e-commerce environment. This is the only way Bulgarian companies will be competitive. This became clear during the round table held by the NRA on “E-commerce in Bulgaria – prospects and opportunities. Fiscal and consumer aspects.

“It is important for us to enable online, software fiscalization through direct access of commercial software to NRA servers or trusted independent intermediaries. This alternative form of fiscalization should be defined so that it is accessible to all companies engaged in e-commerce, including those that also perform manufacturing or physical trade, “said Pasko Paskov, an expert at BICA, a member of the working group on software fiscalization to the National Revenue Agency and manager of Step-Soft Alliance EOOD. “E-commerce is becoming a major trading channel for more and more companies, and any regulations for it should put Bulgarian business in a competitive advantage, not at a disadvantage.”

According to BICA, an increasing share of the trade turnover of the business goes through e-commerce and the NRA needs to work to improve the environment by enabling Bulgarian business to be competitive. The solution is to build a predictable and in line with the latest trends in trade environment, which allows the use of electronic money, cryptocurrencies and other means of payment, which gradually displace cash.

According to Pasko Paskov, all this should happen in a regime of transparency and dialogue in order to avoid the bad practices and lost time in the last two years, which happened with the changes in Ordinance H-18. If our country fails to create a good environment, BICA expects part of the trade turnover of the companies to switch to using foreign platforms such as Amazon and Alibaba. This in turn will lead to extremely great difficulties in tracking turnover and correspondingly very low levels of tax collection.

During the round table, the NRA decided to continue the work of the working group for software fiscalization. The Executive Director of the Revenue Agency gave a mandate to form the group and start work on defining a fiscalization regime for online trade. The group should make a proposal by the end of January 2021 for guidelines for change so as to facilitate the work of online merchants without increasing the risk for the fiscal.

Software fiscalization is the exchange of electronic fiscal documents through a secure channel to the National Revenue Agency (see chart) and ensures that the customer will receive an email receipt (2) for their purchase only after the NRA has received and certified its fiscalization (1).

Among the topics that were discussed at the online event were also the trends and problems encountered by the NRA in collecting in e-commerce.

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) discussed with government representatives the possibilities for introducing various measures to support the economy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main focus was on the new opportunity provided by the EC through the Temporary Framework for State Aid Measures, namely aid in the form of support for uncovered fixed costs, as well as for deferral of taxes and / or social security contributions until the end of June 2021. This happened during the online meeting of the National Council of the Association, which was attended by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Denitsa Sacheva, Deputy Minister of Economy Yana Topalova and the Head of the Operational Program “Innovation and Competitiveness” Iliana Ilieva.

According to Minister Denitsa Sacheva, from the beginning of next year the measures to support employment will be consolidated. These are the 60/40 measures, for short-term employment 80/20, and the new measure for closed businesses, which will start at the end of November. She said she would do her best to make the document with the new design of the single measure available to the social partners by the end of November and to have discussions on it by mid-December. This consolidation will be extremely important, especially with regard to the so-called “De minimis” because it will allow us to enter the General Framework of the EC and the funds paid will not be considered state aid. “The MLSP will insist that part of the SURE loan be used for ongoing employment support measures next year as well,” added Minister Sacheva. She also said that according to the ministry, the measures should continue to work until the end of June 2021, so that the business does not become dependent on state funding.

“Currently, the problem for companies is the urgent need for liquidity support. Short-term and quick assistance to the state with funds from the state budget can be crucial for saving the country’s economy. The Ministry of Finance and the NRA have sufficient expert capacity as well as technological infrastructure to create a mechanism for deferring a certain part of amounts due. Thus, on the one hand, the revenues in the republican budget will not be seriously affected, and on the other hand, liquid funds will remain in the business to be used to cover current expenses, keep employment and stimulate consumption, which is currently a major problem. in the crisis “, said during the meeting the chairman of BICA Vassil Velev.

BICA proposes the creation of a special algorithm for deferral of tax and social security contributions in a certain percentage. It will be applicable to companies that have a decline in turnover, traced from the VAT returns, which are submitted to the NRA. The proposal is that the decrease in turnover can be automatically calculated in the portal of the revenue agency and show the allowable amount and term for deferral of liabilities.

Another extremely urgent measure that BICA asked the government to consider was the possibility of assistance in the form of support for uncovered fixed costs. It is aimed at enterprises for which the spread of COVID-19 has led to the cessation or reduction of economic activity. The aim of the aid is to benefit companies that have a decrease in turnover this year by at least 30% compared to the same period in 2019. The possibilities provided by the EC are the aid intensity not to exceed 70% of the uncovered fixed costs, and for micro and small enterprises it will be up to 90%. The funds can be provided on the basis of estimated losses, while the final amount of aid is determined after clarifying the losses on the basis of audited accounts.

The head of OPIC Iliana Ilieva undertook to acquaint the Minister of Economy with the proposals of BICA, asking the Association to be actively involved with proposals for structuring the procedures under the React-EU mechanism. She also acquainted the members of the National Council with the decision of the European Commission, according to which the funds under the mechanism will be transferred to two tranches, respectively in 2021 and 2022, and in the first tranche our country expects 413 million euros.

During the online meeting, the draft mechanism for negotiating and determining the amount of the minimum wage for the country was also discussed. The members of the National Council of BICA again categorically stated their disagreement with the administrative determination of the amount of the minimum wage. In a period of economic crisis, this further increase in the minimum wage brings even more serious threats and risks to the country’s economy than before.

The association once again addressed the government and the social partners with a proposal to adopt a decision for a kind of derogation from the minimum monthly wage in the endangered economic activities, in which the average insurance income equals or approaches the minimum wage in the country. BICA proposes for these economic sectors to remain in force the current amount of the minimum wage – BGN 610, as well as the new amount of the minimum wage for the country (BGN 650) to be gross and to include all statutory mandatory additional remuneration to the basic remuneration, such as remuneration for length of service and the like.

Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) discussed with the Deputy Minister of Economy Stamen Yanev the proposals for investing additional financial resources from the Operational Program “Innovation and Competitiveness” to overcome the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the new recovery instrument. the EU generation ”.

For the next programming period, our country will have access to financial resources in the amount of 29 billion euros. In addition to the funds under the Multiannual Financial Framework – 2021-2027, which will amount to a total of 16.7 billion euros, the new plan with EU anti-crisis measures – Next Generation EU, with a budget for Bulgaria of over 12.3 billion. Our country will also receive additional targeted funds to support the lagging regions in the amount of 200 million euros.

“In the face of BICA, we see a partner through whom, I believe, we will work successfully to improve the business environment and determine the priorities for the allocation of EU funds for the recovery of the Bulgarian economy. Over the last month, we have sharply accelerated the work on anti-crisis measures to support business and already 70% of the grant for micro and small enterprises has been paid. I expect to pay it off in full by the end of the month, and within the next 2-3 months to pay off the program to support medium-sized companies. I hope that by the end of 2020 we will be able to launch both procedures under the ReactEU mechanism. One is aimed at supporting SMEs for recovery and potential growth and has a budget of BGN 200 million. The second is for digital and green innovations, and its capacity is BGN 191 million, “said the Deputy Minister of Economy.

According to Stamen Yanev, with the participation of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association and within a month will start two new grant procedures, which are aimed at the so-called “large small” enterprises and to adapt production processes and conditions of labor at COVID-19, as well as negotiating the scheme for increasing the production capacity of small and medium enterprises.

At the meeting, the Association discussed with the Minister its ten proposals for improving the business climate, reducing administrative barriers and better regulation. Some of them are the entry into force of the adopted changes for the determination of the “municipal waste” fee, which introduced the “polluter pays” principle; dropping the introduced as a temporary anti-crisis measure the first 3 days of sick leave to be at the expense of the employer; introduction of the principle of tacit consent; termination of the illegal state aid for “AES – 3C Maritza East 1” and “Contour Global Maritza East 3” by introducing a capacity mechanism; elaboration of a mechanism for determination of a national minimum wage and minimum wages by branches and elimination of determination of minimum insurance incomes by the main economic activities and qualification groups of professions; elimination of the restrictive thresholds for mandatory financial audit and their unification with the other neighboring countries of Bulgaria; change in the definition of SMEs, etc.

“We are witnessing the acceleration of measures to support and improve the dialogue with business, which is evident from the recent decisions of the Monitoring Committee of the Operational Program” Innovation and Competitiveness “. And these facts only give us grounds to want and seek to strengthen our cooperation with the Ministry of Economy. We rely a lot on the support of the Ministry to achieve a better business environment with joint efforts and hence – to accelerate economic growth, “said during the event the Chairman of the Government Board of BICA Vassil Velev.

The National Council also discussed the draft mechanism for negotiating and determining the amount of the minimum wage for the country, giving a mandate to BICA to sign a framework agreement with other nationally represented employers ‘and trade unions’ organizations. The purpose of the proposals set out in it is to determine the minimum wage first for the country, and subsequently the branch structures of the representative national organizations of workers and employers to start negotiations to determine minimum wages by economic activities and qualification groups of professions.

Everybody in Bulgaria see how the political tension in the country is growing every day. The prevailing opinion is that the development of Bulgaria in recent years is not carried out at the required pace and the distance from other countries in transition in the EU is increasing. The main internal retaining factors are:

• Problem business environment, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, where close to the employees work and which creates more than 2/3 of the gross added value. Measures agreed with the government in the framework of the tripartite dialogue are either implemented slowly and half-heartedly, or, as in most cases, are not implemented at all;
• Insufficient transparency and control over public procurement. The feeling is that they are lobbyist-partisans and are being used politically to power a series of “hoops”;
• Corruption is felt everywhere and on a daily basis;
• E-government is desperately late;
• The key energy carriers for each production are priced in a non-market, lobbying, nationally treacherous way;
• The quality of legislation and lawmaking is low and the application of laws is selective.

The list could go on and on, but the most worrying thing is that new sinister practices are increasingly being included:

• Racketeering through the state machine in order to take away business;
• Intimidation through law enforcement agencies for political obedience.

There is a growing sense of the rule of law and security of private property. The reason for this is given not only by the cases known by the media, including Hipoland, but also by bills such as the one for seizing the “dormant shares” and through them – seizing the “awake enterprises”, or the innovations in Ordinance H-18 , through which certain persons would gain real-time access (through enterprise information systems) to know-how, all technological and trade secrets of private enterprises, without any benefit to the fiscal system, accompanied by huge unnecessary costs for business, and placing with inaccurate definitions all in a situation of “always guilty”, etc., etc.

These are the reasons for the unsatisfactory amount of investments in recent years (confirmed by the NSI data on the costs of acquisition of fixed assets, as well as by the BNB data on FDI in Bulgaria). The link is direct – the lack of rule of law and security of property, poor regulation and corruption lead to low levels of investment and hence to lower GDP and living standards and an increase in the gap with other former socialist countries. Both materially and spiritually.

The truth must be told out loud – under such working conditions a significant part of the Bulgarian business leaves the country as a significant part of the population did. Yes, production costs in the EU and the US are higher, but legality is guaranteed. Thus, Bulgaria is losing again – and taxes, and entrepreneurial talent, and future.

Business and all its representatives, employees and workers have equal and inalienable civil rights and responsibilities, including the right to protest and the obligation to maintain social peace. Any interference in business by state and law enforcement agencies regarding the free will for political choice and political action of owners or employees is a crime that should be investigated and punished. For the sake of completeness, we should add – in Bulgaria we agreed 30 years ago that we should finish the party construction in the workplace, which means not only no party organizations in the workplace, but also no controlled voting, as well as bans on protests or forced evictions. at a protest by hired workers. The companies work. Civil and party action is carried out outside the enterprises, respectively the state bodies have no place in the enterprises on the occasion of political appearances of persons related to them.

Export Hub Bulgaria presents its new website, containing up-to-date information about the initiative, which was created by 16 Bulgarian public and private organizations in support of business.

At www.exporthub.bg all interested parties can find information about the upcoming events organized within the ECB, about the initiatives of international character and export orientation by the partners of the initiative, analyzes of the state of SMEs in Bulgaria, international research on world markets, bilateral trade agreements, news and useful links.

The forthcoming training program for the development of the export potential of Bulgarian enterprises is to be announced, through which 15 pre-selected companies will pass.

Export Hub Bulgaria was established on December 2, 2019 in Sofia Tech Park by signing an agreement between 12 founders. In February 2020, an annex was signed for the accession of 4 other organizations to the partners of the initiative, each of which will work to promote export activities in Bulgaria through its expertise.

The founders of the initiative are the following organizations:

• Executive Agency for Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises – initiator
• Sofia Tech Park – host
• Bulgarian Export Insurance Agency
• Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association
• Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce09
• Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria
• Higher School of Insurance and Finance
• Institute of Economic Policy
• Cleantech Bulgaria
• M3 Communications Group
• Bulgarian consulting organization
• Bulgarian Startup Association (BESCO)
• Professional Association of Robotics and Automation
• BRAIT (old name Business Cluster Association)
• Software University

You can also follow Export Hub Bulgaria on social networks:

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On June 26, 2020, the Law for amendment and supplement of the Energy Act – issue 57 of the State Gazette was promulgated. As a result of the changes made on October 1, 2020, non-household customers connected to the electricity distribution network – low voltage, must enter the free market. This is another step towards the full liberalization of the electricity market. The aim is to ensure competition between electricity suppliers under better conditions for users, tailored to their specific consumption profiles.
How to proceed?
You should already have received a notification for termination of electricity supply from October 1, 2020 at sites connected to the low voltage electricity distribution network by the final electricity suppliers used so far – CEZ Electro Bulgaria AD, EVN Bulgaria Power Suply” EAD,“ Energo-Pro Sales ”AD or“ ESP Golden Sands ”Ltd. – according to your region. Attention: this does not mean that you will not have electricity supply after October 1, but is simply a notification that the mentioned companies will now have the status of a standard electricity trader and can be changed at your choice!
If for some reason you are not sure about your status, you can check on the website of your current electricity supplier whether you are present in the list of non-residential customers of sites connected to the low voltage electricity distribution network in the relevant license area.

You have the opportunity until September 30, 2020 to conclude a contract with an electricity trader of your choice, providing the best conditions for you. It is important to know that the chosen electricity supplier must also be a balancing group coordinator in accordance with the Electricity Trading Rules.

Information about all electricity suppliers, in connection with the licenses issued to them by the EWRC, with names, contact numbers, e-mail addresses and other contact information is available on the EWRC website.
For initial registration on the electricity market at freely negotiated prices with the supply contract, you authorize the supplier to submit an application for initial registration with the respective network operator, as well as to conclude contracts with the network operator and the last supplier on your behalf and at your expense from last instance.
Selection and change of electricity supplier on the free market can be done every month. Switching from a free market provider is a free service.
The procedure begins with selection and signing a commercial contract with the supplier selected by the customer, after which the supplier announces the change to the network operator. (If the application is by the 10th of the month, the change will be a fact from the 1st of the next calendar month. If the application is submitted after the 10th – the change will be a fact from the 1st of the following month).
In case that by September 30, 2020, inclusive, you have not signed a contract with a electricity supplier at freely negotiated prices, the supply of electricity from October 1, 2020 will continue to be performed by your current supplier in his capacity as a holder of an electricity trading license.
In order to supply electricity in the above case, your current supplier, but at his capacity as a trader, will sign a standard contract with you. Until the conclusion of the standard contract, the company, as a current supplier in its capacity as a final supplier, ensures the supply of electricity, provided that you timely pay all amounts due in connection with the supply.
The standard contract is valid from October 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 and is concluded according to a model approved by the EWRC, which regulates the rights and obligations of the parties, the conditions for supply of electricity from the current supplier.
If in spite of everything, for 11 months, ie. until July 1, 2021 you don’t chose a supplier of electricity at freely negotiated prices, you will have to procure from your existing supplier, but in his capacity as a supplier of last resort. This is expensive and nonsensical, because in transactions with a supplier of last resort, the price of electricity is significantly higher! This is due to the fact that the function of the supplier of last resort is to supply electricity incidentally, until the choice of another supplier. The change of a supplier of last resort with another supplier shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure provided for in the Energy Act and the Rules for Electricity Trade. You have almost an year to avoid such an extreme measure.
How the price of electricity is formed
The main part is the price of the active energy – when they tell you about the stock market price, market price, producer price – they mean the price of the active energy. Practice shows that the lowest price is in case you consume the same amount of electricity throughout the whole day, as well as for the entire delivery period (for example, one year). This is called band (even) consumption. Most often, consumers have uneven consumption – both within a day and throughout the year. Logically, this uneven consumption implies a slightly higher average price of active energy.
Just because your consumption is uneven doesn’t mean it’s not well planned. When you plan your work, you also plan your electricity consumption. This becomes your obligation to ESO when registering your 24-hour user schedule. This is usually handled by your electricity supplier. Of course, current deviations and differences between forecast and consumption are very likely – this is where the balancing service comes in: when the deviation leads to a shortage of electricity – you will be charged extra and vice versa – in case of excess (eg unexpectedly decide to turn off the machine, electrical appliance, etc.) you will be charged for the amount of electricity. Balancing energy is significantly more expensive than normal active energy – when you don’t have enough (turn on an unplanned machine, appliance, etc.), and when you have excess – it will be “bought” from you at a significantly lower price. Conclusion: any poorly planned consumption, deviating from the forecast, requires balancing, and this will cost you additional costs.
It is possible that some retailers will only offer you a price for active energy and the balancing costs will not be specified – this is not in your interest unless you plan and manage your consumption effectively. In the general and most common case, we recommend that you specify with your chosen retailer how the balancing will take place, asking him to engage with it.
Remember that to the formed amount – the price of active energy and the price of balancing, you have to pay more to the final price: the price for obligations to society (until June 30, 2021 this component is 0.02147 BGN / kWh, network fees for access and transmission through the electricity transmission system – a total of BGN 0.01075 / kWh, as well as the following network price components:
if you are in the network of CEZ Distribution Bulgaria – price for transmission through a low voltage network 0.03355 BGN / kWh, as well as access price 0.01989 BGN/kW/ day (attention, calculated according to the requested connected power, and not according to your consumption);

– if you are in the network of Elektrorazpredelenie Yug – price for transmission through a low voltage network 0.03574 BGN/kWh, as well as access price 0.01977 BGN/kW/ day (attention, it is calculated according to the requested connected power, not according to your consumption);

– if you are in the network of Elektrorazpredelenie Sever – price for transmission through a low voltage network 0.03531 BGN/kWh, as well as access price 0.02053 BGN/kW/ day (attention, calculated according to the requested connected power, not according to your consumption);

– if you are in the network of Elektrorazpredelenie Golden Sands – price for transmission through a low voltage network 0.04429 BGN / kWh, as well as access price 0.01349 BGN/kWh.

The above prices are without VAT and excise (0.002 BGN / kWh).
When concluding a contract for the supply of electricity at freely negotiated prices, the parties enter into a contract for combined services, the subject of which is the sale of electricity and payment for all services used by the end customer, including network services and balancing.
It should be considered that in the case of electricity supply at freely negotiated prices, the price of liabilities to society is charged on the invoice separately from the price of electricity.
In order to be more fully informed and to provide an opportunity for participation in the electricity market at freely negotiated prices, by December 31, 2020, the EWRC will establish a platform and determine the rules for working with it. The rules will be published on the EWRC website.

Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) wants the immediate withdrawal of the so-called “dormant shares” bill, which threatens more than 2 million Bulgarians with the loss of ownership of the securities they acquired during privatization.

BICA reminds that the four nationally representative employers’ organizations – BICA, BIA, BCCI and CEIBG, united in AOBЕ, as well as CITUB, Podkrepa, the Association of Investor Relations Directors have categorically opposed the concept, now materialized in a bill. in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Association of Supplementary Pension Insurance Companies, the National Commission for Corporate Governance and other capital market associations, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Justice, lawyers and shareholders. Most of them have already confirmed their position, calling in their opinions for the bill to be withdrawn. The opinions of organizations and citizens, published on the Portal for public consultations of the Council of Ministers, can be read at: http://www.strategy.bg/PublicConsultations/View.aspx?lang=bg-BG&Id=5149

The draft law stipulates the obligation of the shareholders to transfer their securities from Register A to Central Depository AD within one year, where they are stored free of charge and securely for the shareholder, in Register B to the account of an investment intermediary, where they will bear the risk. to the intermediary and will owe fees. People who do not know that they own such shares (heirs) or do not look for them will lose them, because the state will transfer them for shares at an unknown price to a specially created fund to manage them in an unknown way and by an unknown person.

The text also states that upon expiration of the second additional term and failure to take action by the shareholders, the monetary equivalent of the shares will be paid into the state budget, so the previous owner loses all rights he had.

The bill contradicts the Constitution of the country and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and will have an extremely negative impact on the capital market and the economy of Bulgaria. Nothing requires such measures to be taken in our country, and we can definitely say that there is no country in the EU in which there is such a practice. The Commercial Law and the Law on Public Offering of Securities regulate the matter sufficiently clearly and unambiguously. It is incomprehensible to us what interests such unacceptable attempts to confiscate private property require.

In addition to all the losses that these over 2 million Bulgarians will suffer, BICA believes that the risk of our country being deleted as an investment destination is huge, as investors will not have any security for their private property.

The association is adamant that the proposed bill, based on the “disinterest” of the shareholders, does not differ in any way from the confiscation of a bank deposit, on which its holder has not deposited or withdrawn amounts for some time.

The Industrial Capital Association in Bulgaria and other employers’ organizations and associations on the capital market have repeatedly stated their readiness to participate in expert groups to discuss effective, market and legal measures to activate the securities market, but the bill “Or sell at a loss, or you lose everything ”(also known as a draft law on the settlement of relations related to personal accounts for dematerialized securities kept in the registration system of Central Depository AD) must be withdrawn as contrary to the rule of law, harmful to people and harmful for the economy.

Employers and trade unions requested the convening of an extraordinary meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation to discuss the draft Law on settling relations related to personal accounts for dematerialized securities kept in the central register of securities by Central Depository AD. The meeting was convened for 10.06.2020.

Improving the business climate, comprehensive energy reform and accelerated human resource management are the three major priorities of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) for 2020. They were formally presented today at a meeting with the ninety branch employers’ organizations, members of BICA and representatives of the executive branch.

To improve the business climate, the employer focuses on accelerating the introduction of eGovernment, limiting state intervention in the economy and reducing regulatory burdens. BICA will continue to lead its 20-year battle with the gray economy, monopolization, cartelization and corruption.

An amendment to the Energy Act to introduce complete market liberalization and the adoption of a balanced energy strategy are two of the proposals for comprehensive sector reform. Other measures include ending state aid to US power plants, conducting a capacity auction, increasing the efficiency of state-owned companies, including through listing them on the BSE, and making the Bulgarian electricity market more connected to the European one.21

In order to address human resources problems more quickly, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association proposes to support education reforms, with a major focus on vocational and higher education and on facilitating the labor immigration regime of third-country workers. BICA believes that by reforming the budget-financed systems, additional human resources can be freed up and immediately attracted to the workforce of Bulgarian enterprises. The employer organization also wants to resolve the problematic issues in the social security system and to develop and adopt amendments to the Labor Code in line with the new realities of the labor market.

“We can say that in 2019 BICA has strengthened its role as an established spokesperson for our business in Bulgaria. We have succeeded in initiating numerous positions and campaigns in defense of the Bulgarian companies, which have led to the improvement of specific elements of the business environment. Among the successes we can undoubtedly report is the adoption of our methodology for determining admission plans in vocational high schools, the principled general agreement of the social partners to replace the administrative fixing of the minimum wage by negotiation, the progress on the elimination of minimum social security incomes, introduction of the ‘polluter pays’ principle in calculating the amount of the fee in the Local Taxes and Fees Act, launching the preparation of an SME Strategy, etc. “, said the Chairman of the Governing Board of BICA Vassil Velev.

The other participants were: Zhelyaz Enev, Director of the Economic Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Economy; Kremena Kalcheva, Chief Executive Officer, DG Employment Services; Liliana Georgieva, Director of the International Labor Migration and Mediation Directorate at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Science and Education, IA “General Labor Inspectorate”, IA “Operational Program” Science and Education for Intelligent Growth “, Operational Program” Innovation and Competitiveness “, etc.

 

Support and partnership in the work on the implementation of the digital transformation strategy of Sofia were announced at a meeting with Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, held today in the Sofia Municipality on the proposal of the association. Digitization is at the heart of improving services and quality of life. It is a strategic tool for the city’s economy and enables more services to be developed for both citizens and businesses, said Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Sofia for Finance and Health Doncho Barbalov, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Municipal Investment Agency and the Municipal Councilor Nikolay Stoynev and the Deputy Mayor for Digitalization, Innovation and Economic Development Vladimir Danailov.

Mayor Fandakova stated that, as she had committed herself, a digitalization, innovation and economic development department was created in the Sofia Municipality with Deputy Mayor Vladimir Danailov.

“We are working on a few priority steps: first, the most used non-digital services are being digitized, the system is being upgraded and the number of digital services needed by citizens and businesses is increasing. An important step is for the municipality’s administration not to require citizens and business to issue a document, which it itself issues, but to make an internal check, “said Mayor Fandakova. She recalled the development of digital business services through the Architecture and Urban Planning website.

The department offers electronic services such as “Issuance of a Certificate of Structural Status Certificate” and is about to launch 3 more new electronic services: “Electronic application for a building permit”; “Electronic Application for Placement Authorization”; “Electronic application and visa under Art. 140, para. 2 of the SPA. “

In 2015, the Sofia Municipality developed and implemented 45 e-services, and the municipality is the first to launch the data opening process.

“The new line of digitization in the urban environment is working on several important tasks: to ensure a holistic approach, not a piece-by-piece operation and inconsistent independent decisions; turn the city into a platform for innovation; to reduce the administrative burden and make Sofia a market for digital products and services, “said Vladimir Danailov. According to him, the Digitalization Strategy is not a template we are imposing on Sofia, it was made as a result of a survey of the public and business in the capital, with over 100 experts, organizations and IT companies in Sofia. “We first defined where we are as digital maturity and then we set our goals in the digital realm,” said the deputy mayor. Sofia’s digital transformation strategy for the city is part of the European Commission’s Digital Cities Challenge project.

After the adoption of the strategy by the Sofia City Council, it will move to a specific program and the business may participate in working groups with specific proposals. Mayor Fandakova familiarized the Industrial Capital Association with opportunities for cooperation in projects in the area of ​​socially responsible business.

Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association said they were ready to join Mayor Fandakova’s new program for afforestation of block spaces in the neighborhoods. So far, the municipality, together with citizens, the non-governmental sector and the business, is actively working on the project “The New Forest of Sofia”, on which 88,000 saplings are planted, and together with schools and kindergartens – “My Green School” and “My Green Kindergarten”.

Other partnership opportunities discussed were participation in the construction of playgrounds and playgrounds and public-private parking projects in the neighborhoods.

There is almost no unemployment in Sofia, but the lack of trained staff is a common business challenge. One of the opportunities for training is the participation of business in vocational guidance programs, said Mayor Fandakova. Sofia Municipality is working on projects for dual education and vocational guidance, where metropolitan schools and businesses partner.

“The metropolitan municipality is not an ordinary municipality; a large part of the Bulgarian economy is concentrated here, in the high-tech sectors. Nevertheless, Sofia has to tackle several major challenges in the short term, such as improving and increasing e-services, demographic problems and labor shortages. As an employer organization, it is important for us to prepare an assessment of the labor force’s needs in the capital economy, as well as to outline measures for attracting and integrating highly qualified third-country workers. You can count on the expertise of BICA, stating our full readiness to participate in the development, with proposals and in joint working groups, as well as in the implementation of projects important for the Municipality and the business, “said the Chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association Vassil Velev.

Boyan Boichev, a member of BICA Government Board, Dr. Milena Angelova, Secretary General of BICA and Dobrin Ivanov , executive director of the Association attended the meeting.