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Ефективност на методите за убеждаване в кандидатпрезидентската реторика

Author(s): Mariyana Kuzmanska / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This text explains and emphasize on the methods which the presidential-candidates in Bulgaria use to convince their audience in what they say in their speeches. In the following text it is shown which methods are effective and should be used while speaking in front of the audience and which methods are ineffective and better be avoided by the speakers. How these methods reflect the listeners, why it is important to use them when necessary and how to classify them by their importance for both speakers and audience is the main purpose of this paper.

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Financial Development and Economic Growth in CEE Countries

Author(s): Gergana Mihaylova-Borisova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Given the important financial sector’s role in economies, the study examines whether there is a relationship between the GDP growth and financial development of CEE countries. For this purpose, first the causality is tested by means of Granger-causality test and then an attempt is made to assess the influence of one variable on the other. The GDP growth and financial development’s relationship is examined for the ten countries in CEE, with the period covered being 2010-2022. It is expected that financial development has a great importance for the improved growth in the studied countries. Data on loans, deposits in the banking system, and market capitalization as a share of GDP are used. The results confirmed that financial sector contributes positively to the realization of higher and stable GDP growth in CEE countries.

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Defining the Green Agenda: International and European Insights into Green Industrial Policies

Author(s): Elena Spasova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This article explores the green political agenda's evolution, particularly its rise as a driving force behind green industrial policies since the 2000s. These policies have become instrumental for governments aiming to bolster their national businesses' competitive edge and international trade roles. The paper is structured in three main sections. The first section traces the evolution of the Green agenda from the 1970s to the present, highlighting its transformation in policy makers' eyes to an economic and strategic tool in the 2000s. It explores how green industrial policies emerged, influencing international trade dynamics and national economic strategies. The second section delves into the specific aims and instruments of these policies over the past decades. The third section provides an examination of green industrial policy measures enacted by the US, the EU, and China in recent years. The conclusion highlights challenges for European decision-makers in crafting effective green industrial measures and suggests areas for future discussion.

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Cooperative Banks, What Ecological Legitimacy?

Author(s): Maya Jandah / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, European banks have invested 1.331 billion US $ in fossil fuels (Banking on Climate Chaos, 2023). The level of profit serves as a key incentive for banks to continue their involvement with fossil fuels. However, some banks have stopped these practices and committed to no longer supporting the expansion of this sector. This article aims to explore the role of banks, particularly cooperative banks, in combating climate change. Our objective is to examine to what extent cooperative banks are better positioned to tackle the challenges posed by climate change. The legitimacy of these banks is demonstrated through their capacity to adapt in a constantly evolving environment, and their foundational characteristics actively contribute to climate action.

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The Role of Foreign Direct Investment in Accelerating Bulgaria's Economic Development

Author(s): Mehmed Rasim / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

One of the biggest challenges in developing countries is the shortage of accumulated capital, which must provide the necessary investment for economic growth. Developing countries are increasingly implementing policies targeting FDI to improve their international competitiveness and secure capital for economic development.

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Robots as Subjects under Bulgarian Tax Law – Mission Im/Possible?

Author(s): Stoycho Dulevski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The aim of the current paper is to examine theoretically the possibility robots to be treated as subjects under Bulgarian tax law. For this purpose, the author will outline the main hypotheses following the tax specifics of the legal personality. Taking into account the relevant provisions of the Bulgarian tax law acts, he will draw conclusion on the future tax treatment of robots.

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Global Sancflation as a Reflection of the Impact of Sanctions Against Russia to Inflation: Some (Im)possible Comparisons

Author(s): Elena Simeonova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The paper reflects some thoughts on the nexus between the sanctions against Russia and the global inflation rates since February 2022. The paper sets the following objectives: 1) to bring out and define the term sancflation, and 2) to search for other cases of similar global impact of the sanctions-inflation nexus. The thesis statement is that sanctions on Russia are unique and have global economic effects (including inflation) far greater than anything seen before. The global impact evaluation of Russia’s case should prompt a reconsideration of sanctions as a policy instrument.

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Impact of Local Factors for Changes on Labor and Farm Number in Bulgaria

Author(s): Bozhidar Ivanov,Angel Sarov,Daniela Dimitrova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of local factors for changes in labor force and farm number in Bulgaria based on the last two censuses conducted in the years 2010 and 2020. The local factors are considered those conditions and prepositions apart from the national and regional causes driving the development and tendencies in the farm structure. The local level in this study is municipality territory, which is adopted as an unit for defining rural and not-rural areas. The evolution of labor worked in Bulgarian agriculture and the number of farms is steadily declining between both censuses, which is a general finding, where is interesting to identify the local differences and particularities. For the sake to analyze the local specifics, the Territorial Shift Share Analysis (TSSA) is applied. The TSSA is an analytical tool built on the basis of Shift Share Analysis (SSA), designed to determine the contribution of local determinants to the changes in the number of agricultural farms and labor force having in mind and estimating the changes driven by national and regional causes. The results show that about 72% of the observed changes ascertained as a decrease in farms in the country can be prescribed to macroeconomic, national influencing causes, about 19% has more regional roots and only about 9% of the decrease in the number of farms can be connected to local characteristics and factors. In the case of the labor force, the structure of the factor influence is similar, as around 69% of the total change in the labor force can be pertained to macroeconomic reasons, 21% can be traced to regional conditions and 10% to local circumstances. This structureis very similar and shows that local factors also contribute to the reduction in the number of farms and the labor force in the Bulgarian agriculture, which means that there is almost no local initiative for complement support of this production. The regional factors also have a certain impact, even though more limited than the macroeconomic and national environment, as it is deemed that as much as the regions differ from each other, the greater is the weight and impact of the regional level to the estimated changes.

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Analysis of Main Characteristics and Utilization of Agricultural Land in Serbia and Bulgaria

Author(s): Snežana Radukić,Sonja Jovanović / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Land is the most important resource for the sustainable development of agriculture. Optimal use of land for the production of a sufficient amount of food, while simultaneously preserving biodiversity and its quality, is very important within the policy of preserving resources for future generations. Safety in food production represent one of the most important goals of sustainable development consist in actual the 2030 Agenda. We face numerous problems related to land. Degradation due to excessive use of modern agrotechnical means in food production, deforestation, erosion, excessive urbanization, floods are just some of the most common problems in land policy. An important problem is the abandonment of land use for agricultural production and its underutilization. Serbia and Bulgaria have significant areas of agricultural land. The subject of research in this paper is the share of agricultural and arable land in the total land area in Serbia and Bulgaria. The focus of the analysis is the average size of farm land, the percentage of irrigated land, and the production structure on farms, as well as the contribution of agriculture to the realization of added value in the creation of GDP. Agriculture and the food industry play a significant role in creating GDP, employment and exports and reducing the foreign deficit. Bearing in mind that the Republic of Serbia is in the process of joining the European Union, it is necessary to reform the agricultural policy and adapt it to the Common Agricultural Policy. This is one of the most important and demanding reforms in the integration policy process. The entire European model of agricultural development is based on the concept of sustainable development. Agricultural land policy in this process is of great importance and the experiences of EU member countries are important. The results of the research should indicate different experiences and recommendations that can be useful in agricultural land management policy. Land policy measures are aimed at creating optimal conditions for agricultural production while achieving the goals of all dimensions of sustainable development. Strategic approach in land management policy in Bulgaria provides guidelines and an example of good practice for taking measures and activities in the direction of its improvement in the Republic of Serbia. These results are also the basis for examining the causes of insufficient utilization of available natural resources and the balanced development that ensures the production of sufficient quantities of food and the preservation of the environment.

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Rural Sustainability in Bulgaria: Multi-Criteria Analysis

Author(s): Mariya Peneva / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Sustainable development is essential for long-term evolution of the society as a whole, considering the future generation as well. It is a key concept of the 21st century reflecting the present and the future of humanity. Within the European Union, it is of primary interest and a fundamental goal. Currently, the European Green Deal serves as a strategic framework for the transition and policy development to accomplish this goal. It recognizes rural areas as important to contribute in terms of land use, biodiversity conservation, economic activity, and prosperity of society. Rural areas are important as a main source of supplies and resources for the society and as a space for living and working. The current challenges, such as economic crises, depopulation, and climate change, may limit their sustainable development. The active rural development policy and its growing role within the European policies supports the processes of adaptation and transformation towards the sustainability goals. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach as achieving sustainability requires considering the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of rural development. It means to consider a range of social, economic, and environmental factors and their interrelationships in order to identify and prioritize sustainable development options for rural areas. Therefore, the multiple criteria analysis of the various aspects of rural development, taking into account different sustainability indicators is a required precondition. This paper assesses rural areas sustainability in Bulgaria based on the multi-criteria analysis exploring the time-related changes of the available Sustainable Development Indicators and comparing them to the observed indicators at the European level. The findings indicate progress in some aspects (ecological based on the analysis of greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from agriculture). The study also identified serious barriers in economic and social dimensions analysing the performance of rural economy, the developments in business structures, employment and unemployment rates, and the rural demography (population, migrations and at-risk-of-poverty rate). The paper concludes with recommendations for promoting sustainable development that enhance economic opportunities and improve social demography.

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Some Specificities in the Registration Mechanism for Farmers in the Republic of Bulgaria

Author(s): Valeri Velkovski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Pursuant to the norm of Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Law on Assistance to Agricultural Producers (www.lex.bg) [1], the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry creates and maintains a register of farmers. The registration mechanism is regulated in Ordinance No. 3 of 01.29.1999. [2] to create and maintain a register of farmers (www.lex.bg). Through this registration mechanism, each farmer and each agricultural producer is given the opportunity to obtain the status of a registered agricultural entity, subject to the fulfillment and presence of specific legal conditions. Pursuant to paragraph 1, item 1 of the additional provisions of the Law on Support for Agricultural Producers [1], „Farmers“ are natural and legal persons who produce unprocessed and/or processed plant and/or animal products, and in the sense of point 23 of the additional provisions cited above, „Farmer“ is a farmer within the meaning of Art. 4, paragraph 1, letter „a“ of Regulation (EU) No. 1307/2013 [3]. According to the text of the mentioned Article 4, paragraph 1, item „a“ of Regulation (EU) No. 1307/2013 – Definitions and related provisions, „Farmer“ means a natural or legal person, or a group of natural or legal persons , regardless of the legal status of that group and its members under national law whose holding is within the territorial scope of the treaties. The regulated registration mechanism is characterized by a number of specifics, reflecting both the functions of farmers and agricultural producers according to the cited definitions, as well as the provision in this way of a number of necessary privileges that derive from their registration status.

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The Significance of the European Funding Programs for the Region of the Peloponnese

Author(s): Kyriakopoulos N. Georgios,Dimitrios Petropoulos / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Many national economies rely on the manufacturing industry to improve their productive and their public finance. Moreover, manufacturing companies employ too many human capital, which plays vital role for the sector and the local communities as well. Many studies show that the manufacturing industry is a sector with significant cyclical behaviour. The region of the Peloponnese in Greece received adequate funding during the last years from different European programs. The result was to boost productivity of some sectors in the region, especially the manufacturing, while the infrastructure was improved and new technologies were adapted. The aim of this paper is to provide a thorough analysis of the manufacturing sector in Greece and especially the Peloponnese, and to research the contribution of European funding. Although Greece’ s manufacturing industry has a smaller share in the economy, comparing to the overall european level, it still has a great significance. Especially for the local communities, which find employment in the industry or even boost their public finance via indirect taxes. The significance of the region makes it very attractive for investments in this field. Results showed that not only did the percentage of the manufacturing sector in the Peloponnese increase, but also businesses in the region found significant funding in a turbulent period. The contribution of the European programs is very important, as companies in the region found important funding, when Greece’s public spending was being decrease as part of the public finance collapse. Moreover, they contributed in the increase of the exports, which was also a very important aspect and overall target of the European programs as a whole. The industry was totally modernised, as companies had increased their investments in crucial infrastructure, human expertise and lands to expand their business activities as well. Furthermore, the adoption of the latest technologies, artificial intelligence, big data and new high speed technological infrastructure modernized the manufacturing industry as a whole in the region of the Peloponnese. It was very crucial as many years of underinvestment and cutting in spendings and decrease in public support had left the manufacturing industry at a very immature level. Today, companies are more competitive, they reach the European levels of investments and expenditure, as well as increase their exports to neighbouring countries firstly, and then to other continents of the world as well. On this level, manufacturing industry in the Peloponnese dos reach European standards.

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Environmental Protection Activities in Bulgaria – Comparative Analysis in Regional Aspect

Author(s): Zornitsa Stoyanova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Environmental protection activities differ according the specifics of the regions. They lead to optimal use of resources, reduction of climate impact, ensuring security of energy supply, improving the health of ecosystems etc. The aim of the paper is to be prepared a comparative analysis between the planning regions in terms of environmental protection activities and on this basis to be determined the place of each region and to be evaluated the effectiveness of the financial sources used for environmental protection activities. The paper presents literature review of some environmental protection activities. The paper analyzes data related to the environmental protection activities undertaken in the planning regions related to household waste submitted for recycling, waste water discharged from treatment plants, installed renewable energy sources capacities, research and development expenditure, number of buildings financed under the National program for energy efficiency of multifamily residential buildings. Comparative analysis of environmental protection activities by planning regions is prepared in order to be presented the trends of some indicators and to be made a comparison between the regions. On the basis of the data analysis, the comparison between the planning regions for the period 2017 -2021 was made, and they were ranked in three groups – active, moderately active and low active. The analytical part of the paper also includes DEA analysis to be found the most effective region according to the chosen inputs. In all DEA models, the aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of indicators such as tangible fixed assets (TFA) with ecological use, expenditures for research and development and financial resources under the Operational program environment (OPE). These indicators are defined as Inputs. For outputs are chosen generated municipal waste, waste water discharged without treatment, CO2 emissions and destroyed territories. Based on the analysis are made some general conclusions and recommendations for increasing the engagement of the region to carry out environmental protection activities. The South Central and South Western regions are the most active in terms of carrying out activities that lead to environmental protection, the South Eastern and North Eastern regions can be defined as moderately active, and the North Central and North Western regions as low active in terms of environmental protection activities. In order to increase the engagement of the regions to carry out environmental protection activities, various initiatives can be taken, most often related to better understanding of ecological benefits, taking political actions and implementation of regulations in economic sectors related to the environment and natural resources, spreading of good practices.

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The Effect of Grant State Funding on Productivity on the Example of Cooperatives in the South-East Region of Bulgaria

Author(s): Darina Stoyanova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The need for state intervention in the agricultural sector is partially explained by the predominantly low incomes realized by agricultural producers. The resources available to them are not sufficient for their full functioning in the market. This leads to the cooperation of individual agricultural producers. Cooperatives are one of the most widely applicable forms of business organization in the agricultural sector. It is believed that their participation in agriculture improves the well-being of a large part of the agricultural producers, and this leads to the overall improvement of the state of the sector. For this, the present study is aimed at investigating the influence of the state on agricultural cooperatives. And more specifically, the purpose of this report is to prove the positive effect of state grant funding on productivity, using the example of agricultural cooperatives in the the South-east region of Bulgaria. In this report, the empirical research is carried out on the basis of panel data for a five-year period (2017-2021). The number of investigated agricultural cooperatives is 79. The applied model in the empirical study is the regression model with fixed effects. Based on the obtained results, this report also proves the positive effect of innovation activity. The more financial resources the agricultural cooperatives allocate for innovation, the higher productivity they realize. Investing in the purchase of fixed tangible assets is proven to have an impact on the productivity of agricultural cooperatives. Also, on the basis of the obtained results, it can be argued that the larger agricultural cooperatives invest more financial resources compared to the smaller ones, therefore their realized productivity is lower.

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Condition, Problems and Perspectives Of The Labor Force In Rural Areas Of Bulgaria

Author(s): Rositza Mikova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The specific features in the socio-economic development of rural areas in Bulgaria are the basis of non-uniform processes and trends in the formation of local labor force contingents. Based on data from the population and housing censuses conducted in 2011 and 2021, the dynamics of the labor force in rural areas of Bulgaria, as well as its structure by age, gender and education, are analyzed in this study. The research aims to outline the regions with the most serious problems with the reproduction of the labor force through a comparative analysis of the potential of the labor force in rural areas, urban areas and the average level for the country. Emphasis is placed on the impact of changes in the age structure of the working-age population (aging) on the general level of activity, as well as the degree of demographic and economic burden on the labor force throughout the study period. The changes in the structure of the labor force in rural areas are examined in detail and the prospects for the reproduction of the labor force in the short term are outlined. Based on the conclusions, some of the problems facing the effective use of the available labor force in rural areas were analyzed and recommendations were formulated regarding the necessary and adequate changes in the demographic policy, to promote the birth rate and retain a young labor force in the local labor markets.

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Territorial Approaches for Sustainable Development and Management of Rural Areas

Author(s): Marina Nikolova,Pavlin Bogomilov Pavlov / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Territorial approaches are of crucial importance for the sustainable development and management of rural areas. The trend towards consolidating all stakeholders into a comprehensive understanding to enhance the territory's sustainability, and the idea of finding optimal solutions in the pursuit of opportunities for balanced territorial development, is a task with diverse answers depending on the resource potential and activity of local communities. The rural territories in Bulgaria have untapped potential, both in the use and protection of the available resources and their social economic development, as well as in the generation of additional income. Their sustainable development would contribute to achieving a balance between economic, social and environmental growth, as well as significantly improve the quality of life of the local population. The aim of the present study is to identify the integrated territorial approach for sustainable management and development of rural territories in the Republic of Bulgaria. Main groups of activities for achieving balanced territorial development are identified as factors for sustainable development of rural areas. The opinion is defended that an important condition for the integrated approach is for all participants in the process to be interested and successfully combine specific measures suitable for the integration and development of the territory. The implementation of appropriate tools and correct approaches for sustainable rural territory development requires careful analysis and selection of effective measures, depending on the specific characteristics of the location and the initiative of the local community. Although agricultural activity occupies a significant portion of the business in most of these areas, it is imperative to have an adequate policy for the development of additional activities that ensure economic prosperity and a higher standard of living for the local population and their employment. Therefore, in order to achieve three-dimensional sustainability (economic, ecological, social), it is more than necessary to have better interaction and coordination among all participants in the process and a holistic approach to the development and management of each specific territory, in accordance with its specific needs, opportunities, and optimal solutions. Each community can contribute to achieving the goals of sustainable development by 2030, and not only in a narrow scope, but also by contributing to the global challenges that modern society as a whole is facing. The choice of a model for increasing sustainability in the specific territory should be aimed at optimal utilization of regional resources, diversification in the functional use of the territory, optimal diversification of production and economic activities, environmentally friendly business practices and above all at effective interaction between institutions, local administration, business and local communities.

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The Role of Agricultural Subsidies in Shaping Young Farmers' Decision-Making in the Greek Agricultural Sector

Author(s): Zisis Mandanas,Dimitrios Petropoulos / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The Greek agricultural sector is grappling with a dynamic environment characterized by evolving policies, global market forces, and reduced protectionism. To effectively navigate these challenges, a paradigm shift toward a new development philosophy is imperative. This philosophy seeks to address structural issues, enhance technical and economic aspects, and strategically orient production towards crops that capitalize on the Mediterranean region's comparative advantages. This study explores Greek farmers' attitudes, expectations, and satisfaction levels in this evolving landscape, with a particular emphasis on assessing the impact of the Young Farmers 2021 program and demographic factors. Utilizing a questionnaire of 18 closed-ended questions, data were collected from 144 respondents, comprising 76 participants in the Young Farmers 2021 program and 68 non-participants. The survey encompassed inquiries into demographic and social variables and delved into the assessment of attitudes, expectations, and satisfaction levels. The collected data underwent rigorous analysis involving Non-Linear Principal Component Analysis and categorical regression. The examination yielded two discernible factor axes: „Challenges and Diminished Satisfaction“ and „Favorable Perceptions and Optimistic Prospects.“ Remarkably, Young Farmers 2021 program participants exhibited fewer hurdles, higher contentment, and a more sanguine outlook compared to non-participants. These disparities were statistically significant, underscoring the program's substantial influence. Furthermore, demographic attributes emerged as pivotal determinants. A higher level of educational attainment was correlated with diminished difficulties, augmented satisfaction, and more favorable perceptions and expectations. This underscores the pivotal role of educational initiatives in equipping farmers with the necessary acumen and skills to effectively surmount obstacles and cultivate optimism within the agricultural sector. In summary, this study underscores the noteworthy impact of the Young Farmers 2021 program on Greek farmers' attitudes, expectations, and contentment levels. Program involvement was associated with reduced challenges, heightened satisfaction, and a more positive outlook regarding the future of agriculture. Additionally, educational attainment surfaced as a pivotal factor in molding farmers' experiences and outlooks. These insights offer valuable guidance to policymakers and agricultural organizations, facilitating the development of targeted interventions and policies aimed at encouraging program participation and delivering educational resources.

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Cluster Analysis of Districts in Bulgaria According to the Development of the Agrarian Sector

Author(s): Tsvetana Harizanova-Metodieva,Hristina Harizanova-Bartos / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The purpose of the study is to classify the districts in Bulgaria according to some indicators characterizing the development of the agrarian sector. A cluster analysis (K-means clustering) was performed using the statistical software R and the packages „factoextra“ and „cluster“. The official statistical information of the NSI for 2021 was used for the following indicators: gross value added from Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (GVA); employees under labour contract in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery; average annual wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery. It was established that according to the development of the agrarian sector in 2021, the districts in Bulgaria can be classified into 4 clusters. The central point of the cluster with the most favorable values of the indicators in terms of agriculture has the following characteristics: GVA from agriculture – BGN 299 million; persons employed in agriculture – 3644 persons; average gross salary – BGN 15506. This cluster includes the districts Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Varna and Dobrich. The central point of the cluster, which ranks second in terms of realized development in the sector in 2021, can be described as follows: GVA – 278 million BGN; persons employed in the agricultural sector – 3857 persons; average annual gross salary – BGN 12032. The cluster unites the following districts: Pleven, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik and Plovdiv. The centroid of the cluster, ranked third in terms of development of the agrarian sector, is characterized by the following values of the considered indicators: GVA from agriculture – BGN 184 million; employed persons in the sector – 1789 persons; average annual salary – BGN 14206. This cluster includes the districts: Montana, Gabrovo, Razgrad, Targovishte, Shumen, Yambol, Sofia – grad and Smolyan. The central point of the cluster, ranked last in terms of realized development in the agrarian sector, has the following characteristics: GVA – BGN 183 million; employed persons – 1595 persons; average gross salary (annual) – BGN 11795. It includes the districts: Vidin, Vratsa, Lovech, Silistra, Sliven, Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia, Kardzhali and Haskovo. This is the cluster with the most unfavorable development of the agrarian sector during the considered period. Clusters unite districts, some of which are significantly distant from the central point of the cluster to which they belong. The explained variation in the clusters is 73,6%, which is relatively acceptable, but at the same time it also shows that 26,4% of the variation cannot be explained by the presented distribution of the districts by clusters. This also explains the relatively large distance between some districts and the corresponding centroid: these districts show significant differences from the central point, i.e. their classification cannot be considered successful. Such districts are Pernik, Plovdiv, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Smolyan and Shumen. In general, the first and third clusters appear to be the most homogeneous, and the second and fourth are the most heterogeneous.

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Integrated Reporting – Information Base of Green Business in Serbia

Author(s): Tatjana Stevanović,Snežana Radukić,Žarko Popović / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Green businesses operate according to green management principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life of their customers, employees, the communities in which they operate, and the environment. The path to green business is part of a long-term sustainability strategy. The sustainability of economic activity is identified with respect for the principle of moral justice, which implies the equal right of every person to an appropriate degree of freedom, which does not contradict the freedom of others. Accordingly, it could be stated that the right of the current generation to use resources and the environment must not jeopardize the rights of the next generations. The primary goal of business in today's dynamic environment is to create value for owners. However, the achievement of this goal depends on the achievement of the company's secondary goals, which include creating superior value for customers and ensuring full engagement and motivation of employees, suppliers, and distributors. The connection between the company and other stakeholders is made possible by the wider public, which also has an interest in the company's operations. Therefore, modern companies are focused on creating value for all stakeholders. The interdependence of the company and all stakeholders requires the integration of reports on the financial, environmental, and social performance of the company. In this way, integrated reporting, in addition to financial reporting, also includes a specific form of reporting on sustainable development. Accordingly, the essence of integrated reporting consists in the creation and presentation of financial and non-financial performances, to see the degree of involvement of the concept of sustainable development in the company's operations. International professional organizations and institutions significantly support the process of standardization of integrated reporting, with their framework proposals, guidelines, directives, regulations, protocols, and indicators. Integrated reporting aims to bring together financial reporting on the economic performance of companies with qualitative reports on environmental performance. The basic idea of integrated reporting is to provide an information base on the effects of social and environmental performance and their economic impact on the company. This involves identifying environmental and social costs, benefits, and risks, as well as incorporating their impact on the company's economic performance. According to the above, the paper aims to analyze the disclosure of environmental information within the framework of integrated reporting in the Republic of Serbia. The analysis refers to groups of companies in Serbia, that are included in the National Register of Pollution Sources, with special reference to companies from the sectors of agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The paper will also present the future legal framework in the field of agriculture in the Republic of Serbia, with the goals and activities of The European Green Deal. The bottom line is that it is necessary to support investments in sectors where the Republic of Serbia has comparative advantages (fruit, vegetable, livestock production sectors), improve business management, and provide adequate logistical support.

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Institutions and Mandates for Climate Change Adaptation in Bulgarian Rural Areas

Author(s): Yanka Kazakova-Mateva / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Climate change is undeniably the leading challenge in the 21st century (IPCC 2022). Agriculture is simultaneously a major driver of climate change and is seriously affected by it (EEA, 2019). The adaptation efforts and the level of readiness to adapt to climate change vary between regions, countries and sectors (e.g. agriculture and environment). The overall goal of the research is to assess the level of readiness for climate change adaptation of the agricultural and environmental institutions in Bulgaria. The specific objective of the paper is to analyse their institutional setups and mandates for adapting to climate change in the Bulgarian rural areas. The research findings and results will support the identification of enabling conditions and key barriers to stronger institutional adaptation capacities of the main agricultural and environmental institutions in the country. The assessment is based on documentary analysis of the national climate adaptation strategy and the legal acts, regulating the institutions’ mandates and functions. The methodological approach is motivated by the conceptual model developed by Ford and King (2015) for assessing the climate adaptation readiness by governments at various scales. The focus is on three of their adaptation readiness factors – political leadership on adaptation, institutional organisation for adaptation and adaptation decision making. The results indicate a reactive rather than proactive political leadership on climate adaptation in Bulgaria. The institutional organisation for adaptation suffers serious understaffing in the Ministry of Environment and Water and in the relevance sectoral ministries. The Strategy on Climate Change and Adaptation stated the need for increased capacities and training in sectoral institutions and stakeholders in 2019. In 2023, there is only one environmental institution with an official mandate on climate change – the Climate Policy Department in the Ministry of Environment and Water. Its mandate is on policy development at the global, European and national level addressing both mitigation and adaptation needs; and it is the smallest unit in the ministry in terms of staff numbers. The other environmental institution with a mandate on climate change is the Executive Environmental Agency which monitors the greenhouse gas emissions and the related permits and registers, with no explicit mandate on climate adaptation. As regards the agriculture and rural development institutions, the Rural Development Directorate in the Ministry of Agriculture has a mandate to propose measures addressing climate change needs during the programming of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The identified needs (i.e. introduce climate adapted breeds and plant species) relate to the farming sector and not to the rural areas. Overall, the key weakness of the Bulgarian climate adaptation approach in rural areas is its reactive and ad-hoc basis. It either is driven by EU regulations and requirements or is implemented when project opportunities arise, without systemic planning and ownership of responsibility in the agriculture or environmental institutions.

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