ANNUAL REPORT Economic Policy Institute SOFIA 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ....................................................................................................5 OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................6 BOARD OF TRUSTEES ....................................................................................7 TEAM MEMBERS.............................................................................................8 LONG-TERM INITIATIVES ...............................................................................9 XVI Summer Seminar for Young Public Policy Professionals from Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea Region “Public Policy Challenges – European and Regional Dimensions” (June 1 - 5, 2015) .......................10 Biannual Conference Series “Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy” ........................................13 YOUTH INITIATIVES .....................................................................................15 Paving Youths’ Way Student Seminar Series .............................................16 Student Essay Contest “The Investment Plan for Europe – My Vision for the Projects Bulgaria and Europe Need” ............................20 Student seminar “Business Starting and Developing in the Context of “Entrepreneurship 2020” ........................................................................21 “Youths Stand against Youth Unemployment” – project within the Erasmus+ Programme ..................................................22 RESEARCH ....................................................................................................25 “Your Municipality is Waiting for You Online” ...........................................26 The EECFA Construction Sector Reports: Overview of the Construction Market in Bulgaria ......................................................................................27 Promoting Export Orientation of Small And Medium Enterprises in Bulgaria (2015-2016) ..............................................................................29 Tackling Youth Unemployment in Central and South Eastern Europe ....29 3 Dr. Ivanka Petkova Academic Competition ...............................................31 FOREWORD COOPERATION & NETWORKING ................................................................33 Marshall Memorial Fellowship ...................................................................34 Dear colleagues, partners and friends, in the processes of public policy formula- tion. The latter was also the main intersec- “Your Municipality Works for You. Enabling the Effective Advocacy It is our pleasure to present at your atten- of the Civil Organizations in the Dialogue tion between young public experts and tion the 2015 Annual report of the Eco- think-tanks’ representatives who were se- with the Local Authorities” .........................................................................35 nomic Policy Institute (EPI). Stepping on lected to participate in EPI’s flagship activ- V4 Sharing E-Government Experience with Bulgaria ...............................37 its long-term commitment to contribute ity – the Summer Seminar for Young Public to utilizing the full potential of Bulgaria Policy Professionals from South Eastern Eu- 8th Edition of the Black Sea NGO Forum ...................................................38 by enhancing the competitiveness of its rope and the Black Sea region, which we or- economy and increasing the efficiency of ganized for a sixteenth year in a row. Logi- its public institutions, in 2015 EPI continued cal continuations of these efforts were our LIST OF PUBLICATIONS ...............................................................................41 to work on a wide range of policy-oriented projects aiming at improving the efficiency and socio-economic projects, to conduct of municipalities and fostering the involve- practice-oriented training events, and to ment of civil society in the decision-making further develop its cooperation and net- process. Last but not least, we increased our working initiatives. expertise in analyzing the factors affecting Following the initial idea of its founder Dr. the competitiveness of the Bulgarian econ- Ivanka Petkova (1947-2011), throughout the omy and hampering the export orientation last eighteen years so far, EPI has lived up to of small and medium-size companies. This its core values to be a politically indepen- helped us a lot in further expanding our re- dent, non-governmental and non-for-profit search being the Bulgarian partner of the organization, working entirely on a project Eastern European Construction Forecasting basis with transparent sources of financing. Association. Through our research, analysis and public Herewith, we at the Economic Policy Insti- events we at EPI have always strived to con- tute would like to express our deepest grat- tribute to promoting and maintaining an itude to all the people who have created, active and balanced debate on issues con- developed and strengthened its reputation cerning key economic and socio-economic with their efforts, dedication and passion trends in the country. in the last eighteen years. We would like to In 2015 we continued developing our thank once again to our partners and fund- youth initiatives by bridging the gap be- ing institutions for the continuous support tween education and labour market and and confidence they have rendered to EPI empowering young people to participate throughout the years. Yasen Georgiev Executive Director 4 5 OVERVIEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a non-governmental, politically independent and Honorary President not-for-profit organization, founded in 1997. Andras Inotai, Prof. The mission of EPI is to contribute to utilizing the full potential of Bulgaria by enhancing the competitiveness of its economy and increasing the efficiency of its public institutions. In this way, EPI aims at adding value to the membership of Bulgaria in the European Union Chairperson Controller and thus at supporting the reform processes in South Eastern Europe. Associate Prof. Lena Roussenova, PhD Galina Dimitrova, CFA Head of Equity, To achieve this, EPI delivers policy recommendations in a wide range of spheres based on Members United Bulgarian Bank, Sofia economic research and interdisciplinary analyses; elaborates on and advocates for alterna- tive approaches in the field of economic policy and specific economic sectors; encourages Sergei Detchev, PhD public discussions on economic and socioeconomic issues and raises awareness among General Manager, Coats Bulgaria, EOOD decision-makers, civil society and other stakeholders. Andrei Evtimov Executive Director, Doverie Capital AD, Sofia Plamena Nenkova Head of Analysis and International Activities Division, Bulgartransgaz EAD Adelina Tomova Policy Officer, European External Action Service 6 7 7 LONG-TERM INITIATIVES TEAM MEMBERS Ivanka Petkova, PhD Desislava Petrova († October 3rd, 2011) Director “European Founder & Chairperson Programmes and Projects” Prof. Dr. Andras Inotai Dragomir Belchev Honorary President Finance Director LONG-TERM Associate Prof. Lena Roussenova, PhD Stephanie Bosseva Chairperson Junior Researcher INITIATIVES Alexandra Topchieva Yasen Georgiev Junior Expert Executive Director (until March 2015) Kalin Marinov Executive Director Todor Ilinkolov (until March 2015) IT Specialist 8 9 LONG-TERM INITIATIVES LONG-TERM INITIATIVES XVI SummER SEmiNAR FOR YOUNG PUBLic POLicy PROFESSIONALS FROM SOuthEASTERN EurOPE AND thE BLAck SEA REgiON “PUBLic POLicy CHALLENGES – EurOPEAN AND REgiONAL DimENSIONS” (JUNE 1 - 5, 2015) Project content The EU membership prospects for many countries along with the overall process- The Summer Seminar (www.summer- es of democratic transformation and the seminars.epi-bg.org) is an annual forum deep-rooted socio-economic reforms for young public policy professionals from paved the way for a gradual involvement of South Eastern Europe (SEE) and the Black other countries from the Western Balkans Sea region serving as a platform for ex- and the Black Sea region and nowadays the change of experience, knowledge and traditional initiative is open for altogether ideas on the current public policy chal- 15 SEE and Black Sea countries. As of 2015 lenges among young state officials and the traditional Summer Seminar is a well- Opening Session of the 16th Summer Seminar Edition representatives of think-tanks and research known and highly recognized regional ini- The XVI Summer Seminar brought togeth- sions, the seminar’s agenda also incorpo- centres. tiative, which succeeded in creating a vi- er 34 outstanding young public policy rated interactive sessions, during which brant network of over 500 alumni. This long-term regional initiative was experts from public institutions, research the participants discussed their visions for centers and think-tanks from ten coun- launched by the Economic Policy Institute Activities formulating efficient future-oriented pub- tries from SEE and the Black Sea region lic policies. in 2000 in order to contribute to meeting The 2015 Summer Seminar edition entitled who had the opportunity to interact with the most visible and pressing challenges “Public Policy Challenges - European and 15 high-level officials from EU institutions, Publication for South-Eastern Europe at that time – Regional Dimensions” was organized with- notable experts from international and capacity-building and increasing regional Summer Seminar