The Power BRICS Geopolitical Game

Author(s): Karim Naama / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The world changes rapidly due to discoveries and innovations in the field of technology. The interests of the BRICS countries and their common goals intersect to move towards new global economy and to lay the foundations of a multipolar international system. In order to accomplish such a goal, the BRICS group faces the challenge of conducting organizational activities. The significance of the ‘five’ countries in the world economy increases with their joint efforts as a geopolitical group. The economic success of the five states ensures their active role in the UN, IMF, WB, WTO. The present study aims at demonstrating how the historical geopolitical change takes place highlighting its real and objective reasons related both to the development of the world economy and the alteration in the structure and fundamentals of international relations in the 21st century with the emergence of new political economic organizations and alliances.

Europe – Between Culture and Institutions

Author(s): Veselin Vasilev,Todor Belenski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The aim of the report is to stir up academic discussion on the current political determinants in the European Union. Set around the juxtaposition of the two classic texts on whether national economic growth is based on cultural or solely institutional factors – “Does culture affect economic outcomes?” by Guiso, Sapienza, Zingales and “Institutions as a fundamental cause of long-run growth” by Robinson, Acemoglu and Johnson, the report is using the strong polemics of both articles. The report additionally fits examples of national economies across the EU to test the frameworks of both articles and to initiate further discussion.

The Rapidly Growing Euroscepticism - A Result of the Internal Political Processes in the Member States of the European Union

Author(s): Todor Kondarev / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The report "The rapidly growing Euroscepticism - a result of the internal political processes in the member states of the European Union" presents the realities and challenges facing the European Union in recent years, namely one of them is the growing Euroscepticism towards the project for a united Europe. The European values that have been fundamental to the construction of the European project, uniting for more than several decades free, democratic and peace-loving countries, are being tested given the desire of more and more EU citizens to strengthen the influence of the national states represented in the European structures, and the institutions of the Union to have less and less influence over the decisions in the legislative process of the individual member states, giving the prerogative of national law over European laws. Euroscepticism even takes an extreme form with some European parties represented in the political system of the countries, agitating for their departure and disintegration of the Community. The scientific report also presents and analyzes in detail the reasons and factors influencing public opinion in the EU, which led to the alienation of people from the political system of the Union, strengthening the desire for national separatism from the European institutional structures. Euroscepticism is becoming increasingly influential, both in the member states that laid the foundation for the creation of the EU after the end of the Second World War, and in the more recently joined former totalitarian states that have been democracies since 1989, a period associated with the end of the Cold War.

Impact of Brexit on the Supply Chains in the United Kingdom

Author(s): Gergana Kaloyanova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The term “Supply Chain” can be described as the whole network of businesses and individuals which are collaborating in order to produce and distribute a final good or service. The whole system is affected if one part of it is malfunctioning. The study aims to analyze the impact of Brexit on supply chains in the United Kingdom based on a literature review and personal reflection on the topic. The research indicates that Brexit has been the most significant impact on the supply chains in the United Kingdom, foremost due to delays and red tape following the 2021 Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Many businesses had to find new suppliers to reestablish supply. Strategies used to decrease the adverse effects include supplier diversification and nearshoring (transferring business operations closer to home). Unfortunately, a lot of companies continue to search for ways to enhance the efficiency and resilience of their supply chains.

Evaluation and Comparison of the SDG Indicators for Albania and Bulgaria

Author(s): Najada Friza,Anisa Bakiu,Dante Mazzitelli / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 by all United Nations Member States to address the need for sustainable development that would address the economic, political and environmental challenges facing our society. This Agenda produced a set of 17 universal goals measured by 169 specific goals. In our work, we aim to highlight the level of these indicators for Albania and Bulgaria, evaluating the differences between the countries and comparing them with the EU-27 (Europe) sustainability indicators, which plays the leading role in the implementation of the SDGs. Although the 2 countries are geographically close and with similar historical paths, our study suggests significant differences due to the influence of various economic and social factors.

Impact of Sustainable Production on the Development of International Business

Author(s): Alaa Ahmed / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This research aims to identify the impact of sustainable production on the development of international business. The research focuses on the global shift towards sustainability and its impact on business in various directions. Analyze the importance of sustainable production in achieving successful and sustainable international business development by building a structural model using the structural modeling method and testing the validity and quality of the models. The impact of sustainable production includes environmental, economic, and social factors, and the development of international business is adopted by attracting customers and investors, product quality and building the reputation of the brand, The research reached a set of conclusions and recommendations and the research hopes that the results and recommendations will contribute to enhancing awareness of the importance of sustainability and encouraging more companies to adopt sustainable production practices in the context of international business.

Sustainable Development of the European Food System

Author(s): Violeta Blazheva / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This report focuses on food and food security in the context of sustainable development. The trend of food waste is constantly increasing. The focus is on prevention activities, protection measures, food safety and other factors. It is necessary to provide sustenance for the increasing number of inhabitants of the planet. In the conditions of membership in the European Union, the achievement of the set goals in the period after 2020 is of essential importance for the applied policy in the agricultural sector of Bulgaria, and more specifically: ensuring food security for the population, manifested in viable food production; maintaining and creating employment; achieving balanced territorial development; introduction of innovative agricultural technologies; protection of the environment and organization of environmentally friendly animal breeding activity; reducing the impact of climate change and adapting to it and others.

Aquatic Food Consumption in Southeastern Europe: Trade and Sustainability Dimensions

Author(s): Aleksandar Shivarov / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Consumption of aquatic food has increased worldwide in recent decades. Although most countries in Southeastern Europe have a much lower per capita demand for fish and fishery products compared with global and European levels, they are following the general trends. Domestic production is insufficient to meet existing demand, and the region is integrated into the global seafood market. The paper outlines the links between human consumption of aquatic organisms in the region and the global seafood trade. The supply of internationally sourced products has environmental impacts beyond the countries studied, raising questions about the sustainability of the sector and its environmental footprint. The study also examines the gap between domestic supply and demand for seafood and its impact on the region’s trade and environmental position.

Dimensions of Bulgaria‘s Economic Growth and Competitiveness in the Years of the EU Membership

Author(s): Vera Pirimova,Elka Pirimova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The research is focused on one of the main emphasis and some factors of long-term competitiveness highlighted in the European Commission document of March 2023 „EU competitiveness beyond 2030: looking ahead at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the single market“. The main goal is to analyze the economic growth and the factors of competitiveness outlined by the EC in the field of: scientific research and innovation; foreign trade and openness of the Bulgarian economy. The task of the study is to identify the progress or backwardness achieved by Bulgaria in the years after our country‘s accession to the EU (2007-2022), based on the parameters and the dynamics of the relevant indicators. Traditional methods of analysis and synthesis, empirical descriptive and index analysis are applied in the research.

An Empirical Study of Perceptions of Investment Plans as Pension Alternatives - Evidence from Bulgaria

Author(s): Miroslav Kamdzhalov,Hristosko Bogdanov,Petya Angelova,Georgi Marinov / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Pension systems all over the world, and particularly in Europe, are under tremendous pressure. The global demographic shift toward longer life expectancy and lower fertility is the primary source of tensions on pension systems, with the traditional pay-as-you-go type becoming more questionable in its efficiency. In this study, we explore the perceptions toward this issue in Bulgaria, as well as what are the possible outcomes as results of different actions. Our survey was conducted with an online form, among respondents from Northeastern Bulgaria. We explore primarily the opinions of young people, since we expect them to be the most active and the most strongly concerned in the process. Our findings show the Bulgarian public is still relatively reluctant to newer types of investments.

Dynamics of the Relationship between Online Purchases and Consumer Income in the European Union

Author(s): Simeonka Petrova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In the digital economy, online purchases are on the rise, seen as an indicator of economic well-being at national and regional levels. The geographic focus of the study is on online purchases and income of individuals from the 27-member states of the European Union. The main goal of the development is to investigate the dynamics of the relationship between online purchases of European consumers and disposable income, and on this basis to arrive at the derivation of corresponding dependencies. The following research tasks are set: interpretation of conceptual interpretations of the determinacy of online purchases by the amount of disposable income; adoption of a methodological framework for analyzing and evaluating the dependence between the variables „consumer spending, including for online purchases - disposable income“; formulating more important generalizations from the research conducted. The measurement of the studied relationship between the variables is carried out using the statistical software for computer processing - IBM SPSS Statistics and the Excel program. The analysis is based on the method of linear regression and correlation. The data refer to the time interval 2013-2021. The results of the study take into account the variation of consumer spending on online purchases while observing the fluctuations in the income of the respondents. The formulated conclusions are useful for characterizing the determinants of the changing behavior of European consumers.

User Journey Planning for Sales in the European Union by Local Companies

Author(s): Georgi Malchev / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The user journey is a pivotal concept in marketing that evolves and adapts amidst technological, economic, and behavioral shifts. This paper aims to present practical models for user journey planning, exploring their influence and subsequent utilization by companies exporting their products. Specifically, it delves into Bulgarian companies and their strategies to plan and implement exports to EU member states. Interviews have been conducted with marketing managers exporting from Bulgaria to the EU. The framework identified in the analysis is employed, detailing the various approaches companies opt for. The paper concludes by outlining areas for further analysis regarding companies’ decisions related to elements of the user journey in international sales.

Иновационната политика на българските пристанищни оператори: фактор за повишаване на конкурентоспособността им

Author(s): Petya Koralova Nozharova,Shteryo Nozharov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The digital and green transformation, which is developing on global level at different speeds in the first half of 21st century, puts pressure on the Bulgarian port operators to change their innovation policies. This process is also influencing the competitiveness of ports in the context of the Bulgarian economy, which is still catching up with the average EU levels of GDP per capita, which are not members of the Eurozone. The purpose of the present study is to discuss the issue if the digital and green transformation, which is developing both on European and global level, is an accelerator or a limiter of the competitiveness of ports in countries with transition economies.

Значението на Шенгенското споразумение за логистиката и веригата на доставки

Author(s): Veronika Pechenyakova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

За някои особености в администрацията на министъра на културата

Author(s): Stefan Radev / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

In the present work, the reader's attention is again directed to the distinction between a state body and its administration and, in particular, the Minister of Culture from the Ministry of Culture. The administrations under the Minister of Culture and the administration of the Ministry itself are also examined, paying attention to the general and special administration.

Права на интелектуална собственост при фотографиране на сценични изпълнения на артисти

Author(s): Lilia Yotova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Photographers and artists are creators, representatives of two creative industries that create products subject of artistic property. The first are the owners of copyrights of the photographic works, and the second are the owners of the related rights of their own performances. The two categories of artists interact and work together. What intellectual property rights arise in the process of photographing of a stage performance, who owns these rights and how are they managed? What contracts and agreements are concluded between them and are the photographers and the artists equal partners?

Интелектуалната собственост в периодичния печат

Author(s): Antoaneta Titianova-Milcheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The subject of the publication is intellectual property in periodical printing as a segment of the publishing business. Book publishing is often presented as the entire publishing activity. The sector of periodicals is omitted, which forms a huge share of the publishing output and the most circulated one, covering the largest number of authors. The focus of the research is copyright protection in the publishing of newspapers and magazines in Bulgaria and the EU. Media diversity and freedom of speech are core values in the Charter of Rights of the European Union. Publishers of periodicals in the EU are facing new realities - copyrights are violated by Internet giants, platforms, news aggregators, etc., which also applies to the Bulgarian media. The long-term operation and prosperity of the diverse and economically successful magazine and newspaper publishing industry depends on ensuring effective protection of intellectual property. It is important to respect the publisher's right to create an enabling environment for newspapers and magazines, their websites and apps, especially for journalists, photographers, designers, etc., to continue working with high professional standards to provide news, audience analytics and copyright information.

Пресечни точки между издателския и фотографския бизнес и управление на права на интелектуална собственост

Author(s): Lilia Yotova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Publishing and the photography business are two creative industries that have crosspoints in their work together and in the management of intellectual property rights of their products. What are these intersections, what problems have the publishers and the photographers, and how can they be solved? What are the latest law changes and which of them affect the two creative industries? What would improve the business environment and copyright protection?

Изискването за независимост на координаторите на цифрови услуги в контекста на регламент (ЕС) 2022/2065 (акт за цифровите услуги)

Author(s): Denitza Toptchiyska / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

In the context of its comprehensive Information Society policy, in 2022, the European Union (EU) adopted Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on the Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act). The primary goal of the regulation is to provide a modern, integrated European approach to addressing illegal content, disinformation, or other risks to society in the online space. This publication aims to examine the requirements regarding the independence of national coordinators for digital services in the context of their powers outlined in the Digital Services Act and to make proposals regarding upcoming changes in national legislation.

За необходимостта от трудово-правна уредба на ваучерната система на заетост, в контекста на принципа за недискриминация

Author(s): Paola Klassa / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The report provides an overview of the emergence of voucher systems for employment in Belgium, France and Canton Geneva (Switzerland), the specifics of their application in each of these countries, the problems that this type of employment solves, as well as its weaknesses, its interdependence with the so-called domestic workers. Outlines the place for its‘ regulation according to the Employment Strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria 2021-2030 to other forms of flexibility as a prerequisite for economic growth. Points to its inevitable interconnection as attypical employment also with the principle of non165 discrimination and the need to transpose Directive No 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023. to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for women and men for equal work or work of equal value, through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms.