Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 83 measures in Bulgaria in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future with 20 cases (24%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Ekaterina Markova (IPS-Bas) and Eurofound.
Tripartite agreements |
|
---|---|
10 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assistance for frontline workers in health care services
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
18 May 2022 |
Job Dashboard and recruitment events for citizens of Ukraine
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 measure: Business tax relief
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Credit guarantees to commercial banks by Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB)
Access to finance |
15 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Loans to microenterprises
Access to finance |
17 July 2020 Updated |
Grant support for micro and small enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
11 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Reduction of VAT for certain goods and services
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
24 September 2020 Updated |
Subsidies available to tour operators for charter flights
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
24 September 2020 Updated |
Quasi-funds for investments
Access to finance |
24 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: State aid for agriculture
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources Fund
Access to finance |
02 July 2021 Updated |
Fund of Funds: Access to loans for recovery
Access to finance |
07 October 2021 Updated |
Recovery Programme
Access to finance |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Micro-credit Guarantee Fund
Access to finance |
13 January 2022 Updated |
Support for the tourism sector in the pandemic
Access to finance |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
06 January 2021 Updated |
Capital support for SMEs - Second Phase
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
04 January 2022 Updated |
Liquidity support for restaurateurs and hoteliers
Access to finance |
31 October 2023 Updated |
State aid to compensate for damage to crops caused by extreme weather events
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
13 January 2022 Updated |
Grant aid to bus carriers
Access to finance |
31 October 2023 |
Assistance to support the liquidity of farmers
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Income support for workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
16 July 2020 Updated |
Measures for maintaining employment in transport and tourism
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 |
Law for guaranteeing workers' and employees' receivables in the event of employer's insolvency
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Extension of working time
Working time flexibility |
23 June 2022 |
COVID - 19: Income support for workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Tripartite agreements |
|
08 January 2021 Updated |
Supporting unpaid workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 Updated |
National Innovation Fund (NIF): Strengthen technological capacity
Change of production/Innovation |
23 June 2022 Updated |
National Export Portal
Change of production/Innovation |
23 June 2022 |
Support for enhancement of employees and enterprise adaptability to changing economic conditions
Change of production/Innovation |
Company practices |
|
08 December 2020 Updated |
Foodpanda Bulgaria: Expanding services and supporting partner businesses to survive
Change of production/Innovation |
09 January 2022 |
Digital services delivered by ENERGO-PRO
Change of production/Innovation |
10 January 2022 |
COVID-19 prevention at Port Burgas
Change of production/Innovation |
10 January 2022 |
Sofia Plus App
Change of production/Innovation |
11 January 2022 |
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in METRO stores
Change of production/Innovation |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
09 November 2022 |
Export Hub Bulgaria
Matching/networking |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Unemployed can take seasonal work in agriculture without loss of benefits
Income support for unemployed |
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assistance for parents taking unpaid leave due to a state of emergency
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assisting artists and freelancers
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Interest-free credit guarantee programme for individuals
Preventing over-indebtedness |
05 January 2022 |
Monthly allowance to pensions
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
12 January 2022 Updated |
New system for registration of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
11 April 2022 Updated |
One-off assistance to persons displaced from Ukraine
Other humanitarian measures |
13 September 2022 Updated |
Duration of health insurance for persons with temporary protection
Access to healthcare |
13 November 2023 Updated |
National Early Warning and Alert System
Other humanitarian measures |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
18 November 2020 |
COVID-19: You are not alone (CITUB)
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
25 November 2020 Updated |
United against COVID-19: Campaign to fund projects for vulnerable people
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
25 January 2021 Updated |
'Hot lunch' program for people in need
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
12 January 2022 Updated |
Helpline for teachers and students
Access to healthcare |
12 January 2022 Updated |
Together Again National Program
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
16 May 2022 Updated |
Assistance for accommodation and food for persons from Ukraine
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
18 May 2022 |
Integrated Information Portal for Ukraine
Other humanitarian measures |
18 May 2022 |
Enrolment in kindergarten or school for Ukrainian children
Access to childcare and education |
30 May 2022 Updated |
Trade union opens temporary reception centres for refugees from Ukraine
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
08 April 2021 Updated |
Assistance in hiring the unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
16 May 2022 Updated |
Access to the Bulgarian labour market for citizens of Ukraine
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Encouraging micro enterprise employers to hire unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Working Conditions Fund
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Competence assessment system – MyCompetence
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Enhancement of employees’ adaptability and strengthening the collective
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
18 August 2022 Updated |
VAT decrease for bread, heating and gas
Support for energy bills |
18 August 2022 |
Recovery of SME through energy efficiency
Support for energy bills |
23 January 2023 |
Simplified procedure for solar installations for household electricity
Retrofitting buildings |
12 October 2023 |
Bulgarian National Decarbonisation Fund established
Financing the green transition |
Tripartite agreements |
|
16 July 2020 Updated |
Measure: 'Employment for you': subsidised employment for hiring unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
10 September 2020 Updated |
Support for medium-sized enterprises
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
Company practices |
|
16 May 2022 |
Lidl offers jobs and language training to Ukrainians in Bulgaria
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
13 October 2023 |
Territorial Plans for Just Transition
Strategic plans and programmes |
23 May 2023 |
Initiative to support businesses and municipalities in the digital transformation and improved cybersecurity
Other |
18 August 2022 Updated |
State aid for discount of 25 cents per litrе of fuel
Support for fuel expenses |
17 February 2023 Updated |
Support for public transport for children, students and pensioners
Sustainable mobility |
30 October 2023 |
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (2021-2030)
Strategic plans and programmes |
17 February 2023 |
Renewable energy sources and local energy storage facilities for enterprises
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
19 February 2024 |
National Programme for Energy Efficiency of Multi-family Residential Buildings
Retrofitting buildings |
30 January 2023
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ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.