European Forum of Social and Solidarity Economy Subjects Held in Sofia

Dimitrina Solakova

13th European Forum of Social and Solidarity Economy Subjects in Sofia, April 7, 2025 (BTA Photo/Nikola Uzunov)

Sofia,

07.04.2025 13:11

(BTA)

The 13th European Forum of Social and Solidarity Economy Subjects opened in Sofia on Monday. Participating in the two-day event are labour-production cooperatives from across the country. Presented are good practices in ensuring employment for people from vulnerable groups. Also presented are products and services created and provided by people from vulnerable groups working in social and labour-production enterprises.

The event is jointly organized by the Labor and Social Policy Ministry and the National Union of Labor-Production Cooperatives in Bulgaria.

Addressing the participants, Economic and Social Council Chair Zornitsa Rusinova said that cooperative activity is a way for people with disabilities to find work with dignity, and nearly 60% of the enterprises in this economy are cooperatives. "Every initiative of yours, every analyses on your activity finds support by the Bulgarian business community and trade unions," she added.

In a video address, Bulgarian MEP Tsvetelina Penkova (Bulgarian Socialist Party/S&D Group) said that the forum is a valuable opportunity to join efforts and discuss topics outlining the future of this sector, and the focus is directed at the key role of the social and solidarity economy in building stable communities, based on solidarity and sustainability. Labour-production cooperatives are not only economic structures but also a symbol of a sustainability model with a commitment to people and local communities, she added. In her words, the co-op model is particularly valuable because of its capability to influence long-term and sustainable principles. Labour-production cooperatives continue to face significant challenges: lack of legislative support, limited access to funding, and need of popularisation, Penkova noted.

National Union of Labor-Production Cooperatives head Vladislav Lazarov said that the European Forum of Social and Solidarity Economy Subjects aims to present the social economy sector and send messages to institutions, businesses, and society, as well as to increase the information available about social entrepreneurship. "We live in a time of challenges, and our commitment is an important sign of the State's commitment to our system," he told the forum.

The participants in the forum were also addressed by Vice President Iliana Iotova and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov.

/RY/