17.01.2022
ELECTRONIC APOSTILLE (E-APOSTILLE)
Electronic Apostille (e-Apostille) - from June 15, 2020. The National Center for Information and Documentation (NACID) provides an opportunity to issue e-Apostille educational and certification documents issued by the education system (by universities, by institutions in the system of pre-school, school and vocational education and training and by the Ministry of Education and its units) in apostille.bg
The electronic system includes two components - issuing an e-Apostille in electronic format with a digital certificate and maintaining a Register of issued Apostilles (e-Register). The innovation was made thanks to the linking of all documents in the registers of secondary education (since 2007) and higher education (since 2012), which have been scanned and stored electronically. The procedure is fully digitalized from the submission of the application, through the payment of the service to the receipt of the certified documents, as the placement of the electronic apostille is one-time, unlike the paper version.
The new electronic service reduces the time and cost of issuance, guarantees the origin and authenticity of documents, eliminates the possibility of forgery, facilitates authentication of both paper and e-Apostille in electronic environment.
By mid-November 2021, more than 2,671 electronic apostilles had been issued, both to certify educational documents for Bulgarian citizens to apply to foreign universities and to legalize the diplomas of foreign citizens who graduated in Bulgaria.
The introduction of e-Apostille is currently applied in only a few countries in the world, with Bulgaria being the first in the EU.
17.01.2022
INFORMATION DAY UNDER PROCEDURE BG05M2OP001-3.019 "SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS FOR ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION"
The Managing Authority of the Operational Program "Science and Education for Smart Growth" 2014-2020 invites stakeholders to participate in an online information day on the grant procedure BG05M2OP001-3.019 "Support for vulnerable groups for access to higher education "Priority Axis 3" Educational environment for active social inclusion "of the Operational Program" Science and Education for Smart Growth "2014-2020. The main objective of the procedure is to support vulnerable groups for social inclusion by providing access to education and training for better realization on the labor market.
Eligible candidates and partners in the cited procedure are secondary schools and non-profit legal entities (NPOs) operating in the public interest, registered under the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (Non-Profit Legal Entities), and eligible partners are secondary schools, higher schools and non-profit organizations operating in the public interest, registered in accordance with the Non-profit Legal Entities Act.
The information day will be held through the Zoom platform on Thursday, February 3, 2022, from 10:00 AM. If you are interested, please register up to two representatives of one organization/institution at the following link, by February 2, 2022:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckce-tpj0vGdanCKinkoQLLp4dPCmmFl0I
The registration form will play the role of an attendance list from the meeting, therefore, where possible, the information in it should be filled in Cyrillic. The obligatory information that requires registration is name, surname, e-mail address, institution / organization you represent, as well as the role you play in it. After filling in the registration form, you will receive a link to the e-mail address indicated by you in the registration, with which you will be able to enter the meeting.
For the timely start of the meeting and for the purpose of checking the persons (whether they are registered in advance) who will join, it is necessary for all participants to enter the room in the period from 9:30 am to 9:50 am on 03.02.2022 as they will initially be located in the so-called 'Waiting room' and the host will allow them after an inspection.
For additional clarifications and questions regarding the meeting, you can contact Maya Lashova, State Expert in the Directorate "Programming, Monitoring and Evaluation", EA PO, e-mail: m.lashova@mon.bg.
Additional information on procedure BG05M2OP001-3.019 "Support for vulnerable groups for access to higher education" can be found on the website of OPNOIR, section "Procedures", section "Procedures open to applications", as well as in the Information System for Management and Monitoring UMIS 2020 - https://eumis2020.government.bg/bg/s/Procedure/Active and the Single Information Portal of the European Structural and Investment Funds: https://www.eufunds.bg/bg/opseig/node/9096.
17.01.2022
FUNDING FOR PROJECTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS EXPANDING
The minimum threshold for financing projects related to the construction of affordable housing is removed. This is provided by the National Program for Affordable Housing and Personal Mobility, uploaded for public discussion.
It aims to build an accessible environment in existing residential buildings and adjacent spaces for people with disabilities and to provide personal mobility for their social inclusion, taking into account their specific needs.
The scope of eligible activities related to ensuring personal mobility is being expanded.
For example, funds will be provided for a change in the construction of a motor vehicle, including the installation of an auxiliary equipment / device for loading and unloading a wheelchair in a motor vehicle, for the purchase of a car with a change in the design and/or for training for acquiring the right to drive a motor vehicle, in the absence of such.
The program for affordable living environment is implemented in two components:
A person with a permanent disability may apply within the year for both components under para. 1, but separately - with two separate applications.
A person with a permanent disability can apply for funding under the Program with an individual needs assessment prepared in accordance with the Law on People with Disabilities.
17.01.2022
THE TERM FOR CHANGING THE INSURANCE EXPIRES
Until January 31, self-insured persons can change the type of insurance, reminded by the National Revenue Agency. The self-insured persons are compulsorily insured in the Pension Fund of the State Social Insurance (SSI), and at their choice they can also be insured in the General Sickness and Maternity Fund.
Self-insured persons who choose to pay social security contributions to the General Sickness and Maternity Fund can also benefit from all insured social risks (excluding accidents at work and occupational diseases and unemployment) of the State Social Insurance.
The other option is to pay social security contributions at a lower rate only in the Pension Fund of the State Social Insurance (for disability due to general illness, old age and death).
In this case, however, the NRA reminds, the self-insured are not entitled to cash benefits for temporary incapacity for work due to general illness, pregnancy and childbirth and for raising a child under 2 years of age, etc., paid by the State Social Insurance.
The type of insurance of self-insured persons may be changed for each calendar year, if a declaration has been submitted in an approved form by the Executive Director of the NRA. The deadline for submitting the document is January 31 of the respective year.
The declaration is submitted according to an approved form in an office of the National Revenue Agency at a permanent address or through the e-services of the Revenue Agency with a personal identification code (PIC) or electronic signature (QES).
In case of interruption and resumption of the respective labor activity, as well as in case of commencement of another labor activity by the self-insured person during the calendar year, the already selected and declared type of insurance may not be changed.
More information and advice on filling out tax and social security declarations can be obtained by phone: 0700 18 700 (at a price according to the telephone operator's tariff).
17.01.2022
THE UN EXPECTS 4% GROWTH OF THE BULGARIAN ECONOMY
The UN predicts that Bulgaria's economy will grow by 4% in 2022 and by 3.5% in 2023.
The inflation expectations of the UN analysts for Bulgaria are the rate of price increase to be 1.9% this year and next.
However, in a report released late Thursday, the UN Department of Economics said there would be a slowdown in global economic growth as a whole - an increase of 4 percent in 2022 compared to a rate of 5.5 percent in 2021 and an even greater slowdown in 2023 - up to 3.5 percent, amid new waves of COVID-19, labor market problems, supply chain tensions and accelerating inflation.
On January 11, the World Bank forecasts 3.8% real growth of the Bulgarian economy in 2022 and 3.6% next year. The bank's outlook for the Bulgarian economy in 2022 was improved by 0.5% compared to its forecasts from July last year.
The World Bank report also highlights Bulgaria as one of the few countries in Europe and Central Asia that still provides fiscal support against the pandemic. Most countries have withdrawn budget support by the end of 2021, said the international lender, which groups Bulgaria with Kazakhstan, Northern Macedonia and Russia.
The World Bank expects global growth to slow by 2023 as the spread of COVID-19 variants, along with inflation, debt and inequality, exacerbates uncertainty.
14.01.2022
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES IN CORPORATE ACCOUNTING
Accounting is a pen of every business, which is not just necessary, but absolutely mandatory. Accounting is an integral part of the development of a successful company. The financial part of the business should be calm and be a source of reliable information that can be used to develop your business.
Financial reporting implies a relatively high risk of error, as accounting involves taking on large responsibilities and working under high pressure, meeting deadlines and strict procedures, resolving cases on a daily basis and wandering through the tax and accounting regulatory jungle.
However, the desire to save in important aspects such as accounting would certainly be a bad joke for any young entrepreneur. See the most common mistakes that most small business owners and growing businesses tend to make.
Self-management of your accounts
When your business is small, with limited income, keeping accounts at home may seem like an attractive alternative. But instead of saving you some money, this option often leads to unforeseen costs. A professional accountant would cost you more, but it would also save you a lot of money - from tax breaks that you don't know about, to avoiding mistakes that you wouldn't otherwise notice but are easy to identify by a professional.
Trusting an unqualified accountant
Delegating accounting responsibilities and activities to employees and associates without the necessary accounting knowledge can become a huge problem. For a growing business, sometimes outsourcing (accounting services outsourcing) to an accounting firm can help you focus on other important business endeavors.
Doubtfully cheap services
Choosing the cheapest services is not very good. Quality work costs money. Remember that accountants are qualified experts who are constantly updating their knowledge, because tax regulations and laws change frequently. If you invest more money in professionals who keep quality accounting, you will probably soon start making profits.
Proximity to your office is not a factor
Don't trust an accounting firm just because it's close to your office. The opportunity to have an accountant very close to you is really tempting, but it narrows your circle of potential companies whose services you could use. Such tactics are not recommended, because in this way you really limit your choice and opportunities to get quality and effective accounting services.
Accounting services have certain prices
Don't be fooled by the prices of accounting services. There are many unscrupulous companies that allow themselves to deceive their customers solely for profit. Find out in detail how the prices for the services are calculated and how flexible the offered packages are. Accounting firms usually have a basic package of accounting services and any change in it must be reflected in the price.
After finding the right accountant
When you find a qualified accountant, you need to take the time to incorporate it into the intricacies of working specifically for your company. Without proper knowledge of your accounting procedures, any seemingly minor mistake can lead to a loss of serious income. No less important is the existence of an internal control system to reduce the risk of human error or professional fraud.
However, if you yourself have the necessary knowledge and ability to personally deal with the accounting of your company, you should keep in mind some major mistakes made in the process of work.
- You do not issue invoices on time for the due payments and when preparing tax reports you find yourself overwhelmed with a bunch of undescribed customer payments and income statement, which makes no sense;
- Do not keep information and receipts for expenses incurred, which in turn can lead to a number of tax, accounting and other problems;
- You do not report payments made in cash and forget about them, which can cause many inaccuracies and errors;
- You postpone keeping records for later, which can lead to inspections, increased debts that will never be paid, and errors in invoices that will be difficult to prove at a later date;
- You make mathematical mistakes such as entering numbers in the wrong place, inability to correctly round numbers or errors in incorrectly transferred data;
- You allow discrepancies between bank statements and accounting records, and from time to time small expenses and amounts that you do not think about remain outside the records;
- Genuine omissions in the recording of small transactions, especially in retail sales, where multiple payments are made in cash and when small amounts go unnoticed;
- You start working on projects without determining the maximum costs you can afford, which is due to gaps in setting budgets for your individual projects;
You assume that sales are the equivalent of cash flow, but this is not correct, as it distorts the real state of your business and can mislead you and your business partners.
If your accounting budget is still really limited, you can always take advantage of automated accounting sites that make tedious processes more accessible. They give you the opportunity to enter documents yourself and make inquiries in real time. In this way you ensure a monthly closing on time and at a significantly lower price.
14.01.2022
MORE THAN 75,000 PEOPLE WILL KEEP THEIR JOBS
More than 75,000 jobs are expected to be maintained in January and February through the 60 to 40 measure. This was announced by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Georgi Gyokov.
Business support will continue in 2022, and for this purpose the measure "60 to 40" has been extended until the end of February. According to the forecasts for providing support for January - February 2022, about BGN 120 million will be needed "Taking into account the funds of BGN 761, paid per person per month on average for the period August-October 2021, it can be expected that in the first two months of the year the employment of over 75 thousand employees on average per month will be maintained.", informs Gyokov.
After the end of February, taking into account the epidemiological situation and the adoption of the budget for 2022, the measure will be extended in accordance with the temporary framework of the EC for state aid, he added.
The Minister of Social Affairs clarified that the measure was extended only for January and February at the insistence of employers. Otherwise, we could have extended - the funds allow - until the end of June, until the EC's temporary framework for state aid, Gokov said. Employers' organizations are under serious pressure to change the design of the measure, the minister commented, adding that they are in talks with them.
Georgi Gyokov noted that a change in the conditions for receiving these benefits is subject to notification by the EC. I am very worried that even if we agree within the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation on a change in the design of the measure, which will result in a reduction in the rate of decline in turnover, we will not be able to notify the EC to take effect until June, he commented.
The Minister of Social Affairs reported that under the measure "60 out of 40" about 13 thousand employers are supported to keep their staff and continue working, as well as the growth of unemployment is limited. According to the Employment Agency, as of January 10, 2022, the number of registered unemployed in the labor offices is 162,895, and the registered unemployment rate is 4.96 percent, and for comparison, on the same date in 2021 were registered 229 925 unemployed, he said.
The reserved jobs under the measure "60 out of 40" for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2021 are 207,407, and the funds paid are BGN 723,400,000, he said. Gyokov noted that in the middle of last year the requirements under the measure were changed. For the period July 1 - December 31, 2021 the reserved jobs are 150,926 and the funds spent are BGN 324,700,000.
The decrease in disbursements in the second half of 2021 compared to the first is about 55 percent, and the decrease in the number of reserved jobs is 27 percent. In this way, the introduced change improves the effectiveness of the measure, he commented.
14.01.2022
ROMANIA AHEAD OF POLAND?
Romania could overtake Poland in gross domestic product per capita by the middle of this decade if it accelerates public reforms and digitalisation, as well as if it makes more efforts in the field of development investment, according to a report by Banca Transilvania, quoted by Romania Insider.
"Poland and Romania have faced comparable economic and historical challenges over the last decade," said its author, Andrey Radulescu, director of macroeconomic analysis at the bank.
The analysis also shows that Romania has achieved strong convergence towards the levels in Poland in terms of the prospect of an annual rate of potential GDP from 2010 to 2019.
In the last year of this cycle, GDP per capita at purchasing power parity as a percentage of the EU average was 75.7 percent in Poland and 72 percent in Romania. And the annual rate of potential GDP in Romania exceeds the levels in Poland in 2020.
For 2021/3, the analyst expects the trend to converge.
According to the World Bank, in 2020 the indicator in Romania reached a level of $ 31,945.70, which is ahead of Greece ($ 28,377.40). Bulgaria is located between Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago with $ 24,620 GDP per capita. However, the biggest of the expected decline in the population will probably increase the levels.
14.01.2022
CITIZENS CAN OFFER ROADS FOR REPAIRS UNDER A NEW PROGRAM FOR 2022
Citizens can make suggestions on which roads to be included in the new program for repair of the national road network for 2022.
The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Grozdan Karadzhov announced the beginning of a four-year program aimed at qualitative improvement of the difficult condition of the road network in the country. Over 3,100 km of the road network will be repaired this year, and the necessary funding of BGN 2.8 billion will come from the budget and revenues from tolls. Minister Karadjov sets himself the ambitious task of repairing about 60% of the national road network in 4 years, which covers 80% of all traffic in the country.
At a working meeting with Minister Karadjov from the Road Infrastructure Agency, they presented the sections of the national road network, which are designated for urgent repairs in 2022.
In the next two weeks, citizens will be able to make suggestions for including other roads on the list that they travel on and consider to be in serious condition.
The maps with the determined routes by districts are published on the pages of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and of the Road Infrastructure Agency.
Citizens can send suggestions and signals, including photos and videos, to the email address: signali@api.bg. The proposals will be considered and the final lists of roads for repair will be published on the websites of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and RIA.
Major repairs of important sections in all districts of the country are envisaged. Among them are the renovation of part of the Varbishki Pass, a major overhaul of the road to Lake Varna, which will be used in the construction of the Black Sea Motorway.
RIA is planning repair works on sections of the Shipka pass, the roads to Tryavna, Lovech and the Uzana area near Gabrovo. The repair of the bridge in Sevlievo is also planned, as well as the construction of a new bridge over the river Vit near the village of Glozhene, which will duplicate the existing historical bridge, which is in poor condition. Major repairs are planned this year on the Zlatitsa Pass in the part from Etropole to Zlatitsa, for which the Minister also receives signals from citizens about the serious condition.
Repairs will be made on a section of the road Montana - Boychinovtsi, as well as this Rudartsi - Kladnitsa. The program also envisages repair works on the section of the Trakia Motorway between the Trayanovi Vrata tunnel and the 66th km.
By the end of the year is the realistic deadline for the start of major repairs of roads in the Bulgarian part of the Danube Bridge, according to estimates by the road agency.
Also this year it is planned to announce a public tender for the development of a project for the construction of a snow protection facility - a tunnel type on the Troyan - Karnare pass.
In Vidin district 89 km of roads are planned for major repairs, in Dobrich - 117 km, in Veliko Tarnovo - 150 km, of which 71 km for major repairs, including sections of the third class road network.
11.01.2022
BOOSTER DOSE: WHEN AND WHAT - EXPLAIN THE EXPERTS FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
The Ministry of Health has published important information for citizens wishing to get a booster dose of the Janssen vaccine against COVID-19.
The ministry clarified that it can be administered 2 months after the first vaccination with the same vaccine.
A booster dose of Janssen vaccine can also be given after a COVID-19 vaccination course with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines. In these cases, however, the booster dose interval is 3 months.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Register has already created the functionality that allows the introduction of a booster dose of Janssen vaccine. This means that citizens receive their European digital COVID certificate immediately after vaccination.
The Ministry of Health reminds that an mRNA vaccine (manufactured by Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna) can be given as a booster dose after a completed course of mRNA or vector vaccination (AstraZeneca or Janssen) no earlier than 3 months after completion. vaccination course.
The Ministry of Health and the Expert Advisory Board for Supervision of Immunoprophylaxis recommend that coronavirus survivors be vaccinated with a full immunization schedule no earlier than 3 months after laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis. In COVID-19 patients after the first dose of two-dose immunization vaccines, the second dose of vaccine should be given no earlier than 3 months after confirmation of the diagnosis.
Vaccines protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death, the Ministry of Health emphasizes.
