The ‘stability culture’ inherited from the Maastricht Treaty should integrate a new ‘culture of sustainability’. The socio-ecological transition is the new long-term development strategy, which Bulgaria needs to quickly and effectively recover from the crisis. A functioning economy is needed to ensure not only goods and services, but also jobs and incomes that guarantee a certain quality of living standard.
In the context of Bulgaria, an ecological transformation could become a significant factor of economic innovation and competitiveness. That implies using the limitations associated with environmentally-friendly production as a lever for economic and social development, on the one hand, and as a catalyst to the processes linked with income growth and reducing social inequality, on the other.
The purpose of this paper is to outline, based on an analysis of the “green sectors” — the sectors of vast potential for developing a ‘green economy’ and creating green jobs — the specific measures and recommendations for promoting its development and applying a more efficient sectoral policy.
The current crisis and the severe economic situation in the country are just on the face of it an obstacle to realising the ambitious strategy of eco-friendly production and sustainable development. In order for such a model to succeed, prompt, efficient and concrete actions are required within the short term.
Building this new model would involve serious investments over the next years. The longer the transition is delayed and postponed, the costlier these investments would be.
In order to create and foster green employment in these sectors, the lack of skills should be overcome and the need for new changes in the nature of workforce should be encouraged and anticipated.
A set of measures is needed to advance a radical change in the system of professional and qualification training and realise the necessary labour market conversion to green economy needs.