10.01.2022
DECREASE IN JOB POSTINGS IN DECEMBER
In the last month of 2021, job advertisements on the leading sites decreased by 35 percent, according to the monthly analysis of the dynamics of the labor market in our country of HR company and career site JobTiger, the company said.
Analysts say there should be no cause for concern. The decline in offers in December is traditional and is mainly due to the greater number of weekends for the Christmas and New Year holidays, during which the vast majority of employers do not publish new job offers, the analysis said.
Although they are less, the number of ads is 49 percent more than in December 2020.
As in the total number, so in all sectors, there was a decline in proposals in December.
The largest decline was in the sector "Production" - 44 percent, followed by "Accounting, Auditing, Finance" - 43 percent and "Construction" - 41 percent decline. In other industries, the decline in ads is as follows: "Marketing and Advertising" - 38 percent, "Administrative and Service Activities" - 36 percent, "Trade and Sales" - 34 percent, "Health and Pharmacy" - 32 percent, "Logistics and transport "- 31 percent," Hotels and restaurants "- 25 percent and IT - 15 percent.
Proposals for work from home and / or telecommuting decreased by 25 percent compared to November. Their share in the total number of ads is 17.1 percent, and as in previous months, they are most numerous in the IT sector - 69 percent, followed by "Administrative and service activities" - 14 percent and the outsourcing / BPO / industry - 13 percent and "Trade and Sales" - 4 percent.
The IT sector already ranks first in share with 22 percent of the total number of ads. According to the analysis of the HR company and career site JobTiger, this is the fastest and fastest growing sector in 2021. From the beginning to the end of the year the number of proposals has doubled, and as a share it has climbed from fourth place to 10- 12 percent share to 22 percent first.
It is followed by the current leading sector "Trade and Sales" with 21 percent share, followed by "Production" with 13 percent and "Administrative and service activities" - 11 percent.
The share of ads in other industries is as follows: "Hotels and restaurants" - 10 percent, "Logistics and Transport" - nine percent, "Accounting, Auditing, Finance" - 4.4 percent, "Construction" - 4 , 3 percent, "Health and Pharmacy" - 4.1 percent, "Marketing and Advertising" - three percent and "Art" - one percent.
Only 150, or 0.4 percent of the total, are the proposals that require a green certificate certifying the completion of a cycle of vaccination against COVID-19 or disease.
According to the observations of the JobTiger team, the proposals in which this requirement is present continue to be mainly in the sectors "Hotels and restaurants", "Services" and "Trade and sales". Although they vary as a share of all ads in the last quarter of the year, their number remains almost unchanged.
In December, more than half of the proposals in the country were concentrated in the capital. The share of these ads is 51 percent of all proposals, and in other cities it is as follows: Plovdiv - nine percent, Varna - eight percent, Burgas and Ruse - three percent, Stara Zagora - two percent. Together, the ads in these cities make up 77 percent of the proposals in Bulgaria.
We are facing a situation of rapidly growing morbidity and the presence of the new Omicron strain in the country. Although experience so far has shown that each wave of the pandemic is causing less and less economic damage, there is still some risk to the labor market, the company said.
The analysis states that we are entering the new year with optimism. The drop in ads by more than 1/3 in December should not be a cause for concern, as expectations are traditionally expected in January for the number of proposals to recover quickly and for healthy growth in the labor market in the coming months. This is confirmed by the observation that only in the first week of this month the number of ads has increased by 19 percent, according to the company.
06.01.2022
EUROPEAN DIRECT FINANCING PROGRAMS IN 2022
Record funding from the EU budget for 2022 makes the year crucial for the recovery of economies after covid, as well as for their transition to green and digital transformation. To achieve these goals, businesses, the public and non-governmental sectors will be able to benefit from a huge number of programs in 2022 directly to the EU.
Here you will see the first part of them:
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) supports the EU's objectives in transport, energy and digital technologies by enabling or accelerating investment in projects of common interest and supporting cross-border cooperation.
Digital priorities include providing gigabit connectivity for socio-economic drivers such as hospitals, schools and research centers, wireless connectivity with local communities and more. Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner for Digitalisation, said: "Investing in cross-border connectivity will continue to play a key role in transforming Europe's competitiveness and improving it. Improving networks and infrastructure will ensure that Europe's citizens and businesses have access to new jobs, compete in new markets and strengthen their activities."
In the transport sector, CEF is committed to implementing TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) and supporting investment in cross-border connections, missing links, as well as promoting sustainability and digitalisation.
The energy part of the budget should be dedicated to the transition to clean energy and a more connected, smarter and digitalised EU energy system. Most of the funds should be allocated to cross-border projects.
The budget for 2021-2027 amounts to EUR 21.4 billion for transport (of which EUR 10 billion will be allocated from the Cohesion Funds); 5.2 billion euros for energy; € 1.8 billion for digital technologies.
Currently announced for the following calls: proposals to promote regional cooperation for a sustainable blue economy (deadline 12 January); CEF Transport (until January 19); Preparatory studies for cross-border renewable energy projects (until 1 February); Innovation Fund second large-scale call for projects (until March 3); CISE incident warning system (until April 7), etc.
Apply here.
Digital Europe is the new European program focused on building the EU's strategic digital capacity and facilitating the widespread deployment of digital technologies. It will fund investment in technology, but also its widespread use among citizens, businesses and public administrations, including through the development of digital skills.
Key areas for the 2021-2022 work program include artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, advanced computing, data infrastructure, management and processing, and their deployment and best use for critical sectors such as energy and the environment, manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare.
Budget: 2021 - 2027 7.5 billion euros. Co-financing rate: up to 100%
On 17 November 2021, the European Commission launched the first set of calls for proposals focusing on digital technologies, cybersecurity and digital innovation and application centers. EUR 415 million is expected to be invested in European cloud infrastructure, and another EUR 43 million in grants will be invested in strengthening cybersecurity in the health sector.
Specialized master's and educational programs in key areas, including AI, data, cybersecurity, quantum and high-performance computing, will be open to applications; Analysis of advanced digital skills: Preparatory actions for the data space for skills: creating a common, universal European data space and ensuring secure access to and storage of large data sets through energy efficient cloud structures. More information and application here.
Erasmus+ will continue to cover schools, vocational education and training, higher education and adult, youth and sport education. Opportunities for students in higher or vocational education to have experience outside Europe will be expanded. Erasmus + also needs to improve coverage and inclusion through new formats such as virtual exchanges and shorter study periods abroad.
The Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Maria Gabriel, said: "In 2022, Erasmus + marks 35 years of successfully providing opportunities for people to study and gain experience studying abroad. We want to enable more people to take part and take advantage of what Erasmus+ has to offer. We will also celebrate the European Year of Youth in 2022 and Erasmus+ will play a central role."
The budget for 2021-2027 amounts to 26 billion euros, of which 3.9 billion euros for 2022.
A guide to the program can be found here, and the application is here.
The Creative Europe program focuses on cooperation in the field of:
Funding includes cooperation projects, networks, platforms, mobility for artists and cultural professionals and policy development.
Sectoral support: support for music, publishing, cultural heritage and architecture, as well as other sectors.
Special actions: EU Cultural Awards, European Capitals of Culture, European Heritage Label, support for young high-quality artists and a wide range of citizen services.
Budget: 2021 - 2027: 2.4 billion euros. Co-financing rates: 80% for small cooperation projects; 60% co-financing for medium-range cooperation (new category); 50% for large cooperation projects.
Handbook and application here.
EU4Health is the EU's response to COVID-19, which has had a major impact on medical and healthcare staff, patients and healthcare systems in Europe. Funding is for EU countries, health organizations and non-governmental organizations in order to:
Budget: 2021 - 2027: 5.1 billion euros
Currently open grant programs include: Grants to support the implementation of best practices to address mental health challenges during COVID-19; support for actions to improve access to vaccination against human papillomavirus; "Capacity and mapping capacity for cancer treatment in the EU" - a network of comprehensive oncology centers, with a deadline of 25 January 2022.
Grants to support the accreditation and certification of quality assurance schemes for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening programs with a deadline of 17 February 2022.
More information and application here.
LIFE+ is an EU financial instrument supporting projects for action on the environment, nature conservation and climate across the EU. Budget: MFF 2021-2027: € 5.432 billion
Maximum co-financing rates are foreseen:
For 2022 are provided:
More information and application here.
Horizon Europe is the world's largest research and innovation program. Horizon Europe replaces Horizon 2020. It consists of 3 pillars: excellent science; global challenges and European industrial competitiveness; innovative Europe. A cross-sectoral element also aims to increase participation and strengthen the European Research Area.
The second and third pillars are the most accessible for the Bulgarian reality. The second pillar has a focus: healthcare; culture, creativity and inclusive society; civil security for society; digital, industrial and space; climate energy and mobility; food bioeconomics; natural resources, agriculture and the environment). The third pillar includes, for the first time, a section on European innovation ecosystems aimed at streamlining international, national and local innovation programs to stimulate innovation in public services and to provide market opportunities for European innovators. In particular, the Innovation Procurement Instruments (PPIs) and the Public Sector Innovation Observatory could be of importance to local authorities.
Budget for 2021 - 2027: 90.1 billion euros NGEU: 5.4 billion euros.
The planned calls for projects for 2022 can be found here, and the application is done here.
05.01.2022
OPERATIONAL PROGRAM "SCIENCE AND EDUCATION FOR SMART GROWTH" ANNOUNCES A TENDER PROCEDURE FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS "SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS FOR ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION"
The Managing Authority of the Operational Program "Science and Education for Smart Growth" 2014-2020 (OPNOIR) announces an application procedure for grants through the selection of project proposals BG05M2OP001-3.019 "Support for vulnerable groups for access to higher education" under Priority Axis 3 "Educational environment for active social inclusion", Investment priorities 9i "Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and better employability" and 9ii "Socio-economic integration of marginalized communities, such as the Roma ”.
The main goal of the procedure is social integration of vulnerable groups by creating conditions for their transition from secondary to higher education.
The specific objectives of the procedure are:
The grant procedure is implemented with the financial support of the European Social Fund.
The projects will be implemented on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria in partnership between schools, universities and non-profit legal entities.
Activities that will receive support include:
Activity 1. Identification and motivation of the representatives of the target groups for completing secondary education and continuing education in higher education, including work with the parents of students from vulnerable groups.
Activity 2. Support for continuing education of the target groups in higher education through two sub-activities:
Sub-activity 2.1. Additional training of students from vulnerable groups from the second high school stage, in order to successfully pass the state matriculation exams according to ZPUO (compulsory and additional matriculation exams) and apply to higher education.
Sub-activity 2.2. Support for refreshing knowledge and updating the competencies of individuals and young people from vulnerable groups with completed secondary education for the purposes of their application to higher education.
Activity 3. Support for the training of students from vulnerable groups in the first year.
Activity 4. Support for professional development of educational mediators / teacher's assistant with completed secondary education.
The total amount of the grant under the current procedure is BGN 7 million.
The minimum amount of the provided grant is BGN 100,000 for one project proposal, and the maximum amount is BGN 195,583.
The full set of application guidelines is published on the following Internet addresses: https://eumis2020.government.bg, http://opnoir.bg and www.eufunds.bg.
Applicants in the procedure may request clarification on the Guidelines up to three weeks before the application deadline. Additional questions on the Guidelines for Applicants are asked in writing through UMIS 2020 (https://eumis2020.government.bg), module "Clarifications on the procedure", as well as on the e-mail of the MA of OPNOIR: infosf@mon.bg as clearly indicate the name of the grant procedure.
Clarifications are given regarding the Conditions for application, do not contain an opinion on the quality of the project proposal and are mandatory for each applicant. The questions of the candidate and the explanations of the MA are communicated (published) on the website of the MA http://opnoir.bg, in the section "Procedures/Questions and Answers" and in UMIS2020: https://eumis2020.government.bg (to the documents under the procedure) within 10 days from the receipt of the request, but not later than two weeks before the expiration of the application period.
The deadline for application/submission of project proposals is 05.04.2022, 17:30, through UMIS 2020. Project proposals are submitted by applicants only in electronic format, signed with a qualified electronic signature (QES).
You will find all file documents at https://www.eufunds.bg
05.01.2022
MORE THAN 150,000 FREE VIGNETTES FOR THE DISABLED ARE EXPIRING
In the first three months of 2022, the validity of 154,303 electronic vignettes granted through the Agency for Social Assistance to People with Disabilities expires. A total of 229,361 are e-vignettes provided in 2021 to people with disabilities. They amount to over BGN 22.2 million and are at the expense of the budget of the Road Infrastructure Agency.
Most free vignettes expire in January - 97,426. In February - 37,701, and in March 19,176. Checking the validity of the e-vignettes can be done on the RIA website www.api.bg and www.bgtoll.bg. The direct link to check is https://check.bgtoll.bg.
People with 50 percent and with more than 50 percent reduced working capacity, as well as families raising children with permanent disabilities are entitled to a free one-year e-vignette. The right is for a car with engine power up to 160 hp. It is recommended that applications for the renewal of free vignettes be submitted as their expiry date approaches.
They are submitted to the Social Assistance Directorate at the current address - in person, by letter or electronically with an electronic signature. The social services process the documents within 7 days. The Social Assistance Agency sends the processed applications on a daily basis to the Road Infrastructure Agency, which issues the e-vignette within the next working day.
When transferring ownership, the free e-vignette does not follow the car. In these cases, the eligible person must notify the RIA within three working days in order to receive a new free vignette from the ASA.
Transfer of ownership means the purchase and sale of a road vehicle or the scrapping of a car and the transfer of a licensed dismantling company. When the car is scrapped and left for storage in a private property, the person is not entitled to be issued a new free electronic vignette until the expiration of the original validity.
In case of difficulties and need for consultation, those wishing to be issued a free e-vignette through the Social Assistance Agency can contact the customer service center of the National Toll Management by phone: 0700 10 876 or in writing by e-mail: info@bgtoll.bg.
05.01.2022
CHANGE IN THE SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The submission of the annual financial statements this year will be free of charge. According to Art. 12, para. 3 of the Commercial Register and the Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (New, SG No. 38/2020, effective 01.01.2022) of the current year, the fulfillment of the obligation to submit annual financial statements to the Registry Agency within the relevant statutory deadlines is exempt from paying a state fee, according to the agency.
Until now, traders had to pay a state fee for the publication of the GFO in the amount of BGN 40, but it can fall by half, as much as it falls.
From this year, the publication of the GFO can take place only in one place - electronically, through a centralized information system - the so-called. "Single entry point".
Thanks to this system, it will not be necessary to publish it in a few places, as it has been so far, and the National Revenue Agency, the Registry Agency and the NSI will do so.
The Registry Agency invites traders and non-profit legal entities to fulfill their obligations in a timely manner.
05.01.2022
EMPLOYMENT IN Q3 + YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT
In the third quarter of 2021, the total number of employees aged 15 and over was 3,134,400, of which 1,677,300 were men and 1,457,100 women, according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI).
The employment rate is 53.4 percent, respectively 59.7 percent for men and 47.6 percent for women. In the third quarter of 2021, 150,600 people were unemployed, of whom 85,400 (56.7 percent) were men and 65,100 (43.3 percent) were women. The unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, 4.8 percent for men and 4.3 percent for women.
According to preliminary data, in the third quarter of 2021 the total costs of employers per hour worked by their employees increased by 13.8 percent compared to the third quarter of 2020. In industry the increase is by 14.2 percent, in services - by 11.1 percent, and in construction - by 14.6 percent.
According to business surveys of the NSI in December 2021, 27.1 percent of industrial enterprises point to labor shortages as a factor hindering their activities. In September 2021 the average salary was BGN 1,543 and increased by 3.9 percent compared to the previous month and increased by 10.5 percent compared to September 2020.
In October 2021, the average capacity utilization in industry remained at the level of July (74.2 percent).
A total of 35,223 unemployed young people under the age of 29 have started working with the assistance of labor intermediaries in labor offices across the country for the period January-November 2021. This shows the data of the Employment Agency on the implementation of the National Plan for the European Youth Guarantee. from the press center of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Nearly two-thirds of them - 22,733, were employed in the real economy. The rest have started working on projects funded by the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" or on state-subsidized employment programs and measures. Nearly 1,000 young people are involved in training in order to acquire new knowledge and skills and become more competitive in the labor market.
From January to the end of November, the Employment Agency organized 57 job fairs, in which 1,314 people under the age of 29 participated. Labor mediators have conducted nearly 150,000 consultations with unemployed youth. More than 23,000 of them have received career guidance advice, and nearly 6,400 have been included in job search workshops.
On an annual basis, the number of unemployed young people has fallen by more than 30 percent. In November, 17,689 people under the age of 29 were registered in the labor offices, which is 7,728 less than in the same month of 2020. The largest share of unemployed young people are without qualifications and specialties, and the least are those with higher education. The number of young people who have been unemployed for more than a year is 2,614. In the last 12 months, their number has dropped by nearly 17 percent.
04.01.2022
THE RECEPTION UNDER THE NATIONAL BEEKEEPING PROGRAM IS OPENED
On January 4, the State Fund "Agriculture" (SFA) opens the reception for 2022 under the National Beekeeping Program (NBP), which operates in the period 2020 - 2022. For 2022 the financial resource is BGN 8,073,092.57.
Admission will last until January 17, 2022.
Documents for the financial year 2022 will be accepted in the regional directorates of the State Fund "Agriculture" at the permanent address of an individual and by address registration of a legal entity. Admission will last until January 17, 2022.
Beekeepers can download a sample application for support from the SFA website. There is also published information on the conditions for funding under the measures of NBP 2020 - 2022. Those interested in the beekeeping program, who do not have online access, can find information on the spot in the regional directorates of the Fund and the Central Office of SFA in department "Beekeeping, milk and interventions" of the Directorate "Agricultural Market Mechanisms".
Measures B, D and E of the NBP 2020-2022 include activities to combat varroasis for laboratory analysis of honey and the purchase of hives, bee colonies and queens. Under measure A, the applicants will be assisted in the purchase of small beekeeping equipment, while measure B is aimed at mobile beekeeping.
For the new reception in 2022, with an amendment to the Ordinance of October 2021, new types of inventory are added, which farmers can buy.
Beekeepers can also apply under Measure D "Examination of samples of food stocks of bee colonies (honey, pollen) for pesticide residues above the limit values". Until now, the measure was available only to associations and organizations.
Beekeepers' associations and organizations can also apply for support under measures A, B and D of the National Beekeeping Program from 4 to 17 January 2022. Measure F of Action 3 "Monitoring of pesticide residues in bees from areas with intensive agriculture" is also open“. Documents on these measures will be accepted at the central office of the State Fund "Agriculture" - Paying Agency.
The management of the State Fund "Agriculture" assures the beekeepers that after the end of the reception under the NBP for 2022 in the shortest possible time will be considered and approved the applications of all applicants.
04.01.2022
THE HEALTH DISCOVERIES OF THE PAST YEAR
The past year has been full of scientific discoveries, even excluding all those associated with the coronavirus, the Hina news agency reported.
In 2021, scientists have made great strides in the treatment of many diseases and some of their discoveries are revolutionary. Here are the six most interesting scientific discoveries.
Mental health solutions
In recent years, drugs with psychedelic effects have yielded promising results in the treatment of several mental illnesses, and two studies conducted in 2021 only further confirmed their effectiveness in combination with therapy.
For people suffering from PTSD, MDMA or ectasia, this can make everyday life easier. In the third phase of the clinical trial, the results of which were published in the journal Nature Medicine, 67% of MDMA patients receiving speech therapy had such an improvement that they no longer met the conditions for diagnosis two months after treatment.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic" mushrooms, has also been studied. This study shows that hallucinogen therapy significantly reduces the symptoms of depression, which is otherwise resistant to treatment.
In a previous study of psilocybin as an antidepressant (April to November), two sessions of psychedelics worked "at least as well" as the daily dose of the antidepressant escitalopram.
Blood test for 50 cancers
Newly discovered technology can detect more than 50 cancers at an early stage based on a single blood draw. This method is called Test Gallery and was developed by biotech giant Illumina. The method looks for fragments of DNA in the blood that could signal the presence of cancer. These fragments can also locate the tumor with high accuracy, giving the patient a great advantage in diagnosis and treatment.
In a clinical study involving people who had already been diagnosed with cancer, the Gallery test identified 51.9 percent of cancers, regardless of stage. This test can be extremely useful in detecting cancers that have not been diagnosed with regular checkups.
Doctors say that this and similar tests should improve sensitivity levels, but once that happens, they will be of great benefit to people, as they could avoid the effects of chemotherapy on the body.
First treatment for progeria
Progeria is a genetic disease that causes premature aging in approximately 400 children worldwide. There is currently no treatment to slow the disease, which is mostly fatal after the age of 13.
A new drug developed in 2021 could prolong the lives of children born with this condition by about two and a half years. This is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for Hutchison-Guilford progeria syndrome. It works by preventing the accumulation of mutated proteins. These defective proteins are called progerins and cause cell death and damage to the heart and bones. Children with this diagnosis usually die of heart failure or stroke.
Anterior lumbar ligament healing implant
The anterior cruciate ligament is the most common source of knee injury, according to a 2016 report in the Journal of Clinical Orthopedics and Trauma. Although this is a common injury, it can be very difficult to repair and repairing a torn anterior cruciate ligament may require multiple surgeries or even a complete reconstruction. This in turn requires the removal of a healthy tendon for transplantation and long-term recovery.
A newly developed knee implant, recently approved by the FDA, can stimulate the healing of the anterior cruciate ligament. This is what Dr. Martha Murray, chief orthopedic surgeon at Boston Children's Hospital.
The revolutionary implant is made of bovine collagen and drops of the patient's blood and connects the torn parts of the anterior cruciate ligament. The placement procedure is minimally time consuming and healing is faster than reconstruction.
Tablet against fungal infection
The antifungal pill is the first new antifungal drug in 20 years. Stops the growth of Candida, the fungus that causes vaginal fungal infections.
The treatment of fungal infections can sometimes take a long time. The new drug provides a step forward from existing antifungal drugs.
Formula for artificial milk, similar to breast milk
Two scientists have developed the first laboratory-made breast milk. It is made from cells with nutrients and those of breast milk. It consists of mammary cells located in the mammary glands.
The milk is called Biomilq and is nutritionally more complex than previous formulas. However, the scientists behind this discovery do not claim that it is a perfect substitute for breast milk because it does not reflect the mother's nutrition and does not transmit immune protection from mother to child.
This product must be available to parents within three years.
Source: BGNES
04.01.2022
20 YEARS OF EURO + INTERESTING FACTS
Farewell to the pound, the franc, the mark, the peseta: on 1 January 2002, the people of twelve European countries were finally able to hold the euro in their hands, three years after its official creation.
The archives of AFP recall the first days of this historic step, filled with euphoria, but also with hesitation.
Some French New Year celebrants have made withdrawing euros from ATMs one of the New Year's attractions to touch the new currency as quickly as possible. 450,000 withdrawals were made from ATMs that night.
The first specific purchases in euros are in the small shops, which are on the front line on non-working days. They are trying to return the rest in euros as much as possible, even when they are paid in francs, as the French national currency remains a means of payment for several weeks.
In the following days, the scale changed: people returned to work and large retail outlets joined the game.
Everything is fine with the transition to the euro in Athens. The only exception is the central market under the Acropolis, where the drachma continues to prevail as a means of payment on January 3. In one of the butchers the salesman grumbles: "Let them use it, this barbaric currency!".
In Italy, where Silvio Berlusconi's government is not unanimous about the new currency, queues at banks, post offices and station counters are growing. The police have to intervene when the situation gets worse.
A toll-free "SOS Euro" number has been introduced in Naples, which receives signals of errors and irregularities in currency conversion.
The rounding of prices did not go unnoticed. In the Vatican, for example, the papal blessing on 5,000-pound parchment paper becomes 3 euros, an increase of 46 cents. Visits to Vatican museums and St. Peter's Basilica are also rising.
In Spain, many "All 100 Pesetas" stores (€ 0.60) become "All 1 Pesetas".
In most of the twelve countries, there is increasing talk of over-rounding. However, no deviation in prices has been found, the European Commission assures.
The then President of the European Central Bank (ECB), the Dutchman Wim Duisenberg, did not hesitate to share personal experience - he paid 4.45 euros for a Big Mac with a raspberry milkshake, just as it cost this menu in Deutsche Marks before the currency change.
At the end of this first week, the main problem is the shortage of low-denomination coins and banknotes in some countries.
That is why in the Netherlands, which is one of the leading examples of the changeover to the euro, some supermarkets and petrol stations are starting to return leftovers due to a shortage of small items.
In France, the government is surprised by the French 'desire to get rid of all their francs in a few days, including large banknotes hidden under mattresses or coins from children's coffers.
In order not to block the system, the banking authorities urge people not to buy bread with a banknote of 500 francs.
Despite these difficulties, the forerunner of euro banknotes and coins has been identified as successful by more than 300 million Europeans.
Two decades later, however, the dollar still rules the world as the safest currency.
When the world economy was forced to stop because of the KOVID-19 pandemic, investors rushed to exchange their assets in dollars, which led to the appreciation of the US currency.
More than $ 2.1 trillion is currently in circulation, and about 60 percent of central banks' foreign exchange reserves are in dollars. For the euro, this share is about 20 percent, according to the ECB.
04.01.2022
FIVE WAYS TO DO BETTER DURING FINANCIAL NEGOTIATIONS
Whether you're negotiating a higher salary, trying to negotiate a price for something you buy, or just trying to convince your spouse to save (or spend) more, there are some basic principles that will help you you guarantee your success in all kinds of negotiations.
You are less likely to get what you want if you do not want to take into account the motivation and limitations of the other party in advance.
"People only say 'yes' if they see interest in themselves," said Gaetan Pelerin, a negotiating consultant and author.
If you do not know what the real interest of the other party is, you are less likely to make a proposal that is acceptable.
"If I prepare with the attitude that it's just me, it will be difficult for me to succeed. I have to take time and focus on the other side. What could be a victory for the other person or what could worry him? " says Pelerin.
Let's say you want to save for retirement, but your spouse wants to live comfortably today. You will not go far only if you ask him/her to limit his / her expenses, presenting logical arguments why it is good to save for the future.
You will improve your chances if your proposal takes into account the equally reasonable view of your spouse that you do not always have to postpone what you want today, because tomorrow is not guaranteed.
You may also be wondering what is really behind your desire to save more. "Is this a value you learned from your parents? Or is it your value as an adult?" says Pelerin.
Negotiations provoke emotions, because it is usually not just about money. It may be about self-esteem, the need for respect, or the need for greater security or independence.
Therefore, it is useful to prepare in advance for potentially difficult moments so that you do not react during the negotiations and sabotage your chances of success.
"Negotiations rarely go according to plan," Pelerin said. So think about how to react to "what if" scenarios.
What would be your reaction if the other person is upset or stubborn or condescending? How will you react if you are shouted at or do not accept your offer? You may feel angry, powerless, or belittled. Instead of demonstrating these feelings, think about how to react in a less emotional and measured way.
The point is to prepare when you think rationally, not to improvise at the moment.
"When we face a high-stress situation, we react spontaneously - all kinds of rational thoughts leave our heads," said Fotini Economopoulos, author and professor at York University in Toronto.
People tend to talk too much and listen too little during negotiations. "Those who get the most out of the negotiations have the skills and listen carefully," Economopoulos said.
His recommendation: Watch what happens during the conversation, radiate quiet confidence and take a few breaths before answering, especially when you are surprised by something. She calls it "the power of the pause." Your goal is to think before you speak and to think carefully about the words you use.
If the other party rejects your offer, gather more information. "One 'no' is not the end of the conversation," Economopoulos said.
This is the time to ask follow-up questions. "If you ask the right questions, you can get what you want (after all)," she added.
Let's just say your boss can't give you the salary increase you want. If you ask why, he or she may say that you have already reached the top salary for your position.
"So you can ask, 'What steps can I take to get out of this pay range? Can we meet in six months to discuss a promotion?'" Pelerin said.
If your boss can't give you guidance on how to get to the next level in a certain period of time or gives evasive answers, this is a cause for concern - maybe the company has financial problems or he or she just doesn't appreciate it so much. the prospects before you.
In any case, you will leave with valuable information that will help you take your next move. It may be to take on key projects that will lead to promotion. Or maybe it's time to look for a new job if you have nowhere else to develop on your current one.
If we continue as an example with salary negotiations, if a boss or potential employer cannot offer you what you want as a base salary, ask about other ways in which the company can increase your income.
For example, is the bigger bonus an option? Reimbursement of training costs? Extra overtime?
"Be creative to create value elsewhere," says Pelerin.
