LOBBYING AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL – AN INTEGRAL PART OF PRESENT-DAY SOCIAL DIALOGUE

1. LOBBYING AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL – AN INTEGRAL PART OF PRESENT-DAY SOCIAL DIALOGUE (topic for discussions) Kiril Zheliazkov, PhD Bulgarian Industrial Association 7 June 2012

2. Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) - a nationally presented employers’ organization • Represents over 250 regional and branch industrial organizations, universities, R&D bodies, over 20 000 Bulgarian and foreign companies including SMEs; • Member ofBUSINESSEUROPE; • Through its structures, BIA plays a significant role as an institution in shaping policies; • Conducts research and facilitates the development of modern environment fostering business policies for lobbying at a national and European level

3. Lobbying – part of the social dialogue • Lobbying- “The act of attempting to influence the way policies are shaped and decisions are taken at national and European institutions” • Lobbyists- “People who often visit the national parliaments and the EP in order to present information to the parliamentarians during their mandate and in their own interest or that of a third party”

4. The importance of lobbying to BIA and the new mechanisms • Lobbying in the national and European parliaments is gaining greater significance; • Lobbyists play a crucial role to foster an open and pluralistic social dialogue; • There are about 15 000lobbyists and 2 500 lobbying organizations in Brussels; • A common register of lobbyists at the EU institutions is part of the European Transparency Initiative; • There are currently about5 000registered lobbyists in the EP.

5. Why lobbying actively and complying with the EU rules? • Strategically defend Bulgarian and SEE employers’ interests related to performing arts at a European level; • Overcoming the previous negative stereotypes in Brussels about Bulgaria and the other countries from the Balkan Peninsula.

6. PEARLE – a familiar organization within the lobbying community at the European parliament • Closer cooperation with BIA and BAROK – cooperation with European and international lobbying organizations, communities and associations; • Setting up virtual networks jointly with BIA and BAROK –a prerequisite for registered lobbyists to jointly discuss common interests and take decisions concerning mutual challenges;

7. PEARLE – a familiar organization within the lobbying community at the European parliament • Conducting training schemes of BIA and BAROK experts –continuous learning offered to selected lobbyists in order to enhance their education and qualification for interacting with the EU institutions, exchanging information, know-how and good practices through discussions, surveys, research and publications, improving lobbying principles and mechanisms.

8. Dynamics in the lobbying paradigms • The old model – Give something to our man! • The new model – We proved that our man is the best and deserves to get something!

9. LOBBYING AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL – AN INTEGRAL PART OF PRESENT-DAY SOCIAL DIALOGUE (topic for discussions) Kiril Jeliazkov, PhD Bulgarian Industrial Association 7 June 2012