EUROPEAN COMMISSION WITH HELPFUL GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN BULGARIA

In the years of economic and financial crisis, the social enterprises in Europe and Bulgaria have reported better progress in comparison with the mass business. This was stated by representatives of the European Commission at the opening of the only European Fair of Enterprises and Cooperatives of Persons with Disabilities, held between 20-23 March in the south Bulgarian city of Plovdiv.

The event was launched in 2003, in the European Year of People with Disabilities. Since 2012, the exhibition has developed into an international event - a European forum, a roundtable discussion and a European Fair.

The European Commission and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in Bulgaria are among the organizers of this year’s Fair.

Foreign exhibitors will show antique objects, wooden articles, products for people with hearing and speech impairment. Bulgarian goods and products will be mainly clothes, shoes, furniture, plastic and polygraphic materials.

So far the European Commission has provided 86 million euro for development of the social economy. In Bulgaria, the most of this funding has been absorbed for the programme on development of human resources.

During the event, experts from the European Commision gave helpful advice and guidelines on the development of social entrepreneurship in Bulgaria.

10 Bulgarian social enterprises from the total 82 Bulgarian and foreign companies participating in the event were awarded for introduction of innovative technologies in their production process.