STRONG project aimed to strengthen the social dialogue policies and practices in Bulgaria, to improve the tripartite dialogue and consultations at national, regional and local level, to stimulate the bilateral cooperation between Norway and Bulgaria sharing expertise, experience, knowledge and best practices.

The project aimed to raise the capacity of social partners to participate in the bipartite/tripartite cooperation through transfer of good practices, organization of study visits and trainings, and to improve the skills and knowledge of the stakeholders in dispute prevention and voluntary resolution in social dialogue. The activity list included triparitate dialogue, dispute resolution and online training platform, in particular: 

  • Research of best practices in tripartite dialogue in EU and Norway.
  • Development of handbook “Voluntary dispute resolution – negotiations, mediation, conciliation, arbitration. Solving collective labour disputes”.
  • Study visit to Norway for exchange of good practices with representatives of the Association of the Organisations of Bulgarian Employers.
  • Organisation of 4 regional workshops with the participation of NHO in Sofia, Karlovo, Burgas and Varna.
  • Development of on line training platform with four training modules –
    • Module 1 – Conflict management
    • Module 2 – Dealing with stress at workplace
    • Module 3 – Good practices for efficient communication during negotiations
    • Module 4 – Successful tactics in conducting negotiations

The target group consisted of social partners, including the four employers' organizations in Bulgaria: BICA, BIA, BCCI, and CEIB.

Summary of bilateral results

The project transferred good practices from Norway to strengthen social dialogue and tripartite dialogue in Bulgaria. The most useful lessons were learned during the organised study trip in Norway, where representatives of all officially recognised employers’ associations in Bulgaria took part. The delegation visited the main employer confederation NHO, the main trade union confederation LO and Digital Norway for knowledge sharing regarding the successful Nordic model of social dialogue in Norway and its key elements; the Basic Agreement as an instrument for consultation and information; the main functions of the trade unions and their role in the social dialogue; tripartite cooperation in the world of work in Norway; and CSR good practices applied by Norwegian companies. The bilateral partenership also led to a second phase of the project called SOLID.

Project details

Project info
Period
2014-2021
Approval date
Grant financing
135000.00€
Final project cost
136205.00€