Publisher: Център за изследване на демокрацията

Hidden Economy in Southeast Europe: Building Regional Momentum to Mitigate its Negative Effects

Hidden Economy in Southeast Europe: Building Regional Momentum to Mitigate its Negative Effects

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Keywords: CSD Policy Briefs; Center for the Study of Democracy; Hidden Economy; Southeast Europe

According to the authors of the policy brief, not declaring in full or partially economic activities in SEE remains widespread in virtually all areas of government – permissions and licenses, labour contracts, social security, taxes and custom duties. It signals a persistent gap between formal and informal institutions and lack of coherent enforcement of rules. Corruption pressure is higher towards those engaged in the hidden economy. At the same time their susceptibility to corruption is also higher, confirming the institutional incongruence. The immense diversity of the scale (from 19 % in Croatia to 81 % in Kosovo), prevailing patterns (no written contracts in Turkey, non-payment of health care contributions in Kosovo, envelope wages in FYR of Macedonia and Bulgaria, non-formalised business in Albania), formal vs informal wage average (higher formal wages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Turkey and lower in Kosovo and Bulgaria) requires country specific tailor-made policies and sequencing of reforms.

Bulgarian Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2020

Bulgarian Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2020

Author(s): Atanas Rusev,Tihomir Bezlov,Mois Faion,Mariyan Sabev,Stefan Ralchev / Language(s): English

Keywords: Bulgaria; Organised Crime; criminal; CSD

The 2020 Bulgarian Organised Crime Threat Assessment is the third in a series of studies which, on an annual basis, canvasses the state, volume and structure of the major criminal markets. The report also captures the trends related to organised crime over the period 2017–2019.

Democracy in Bulgaria: still fragile after 30 years of transition

Democracy in Bulgaria: still fragile after 30 years of transition

Author(s): Rumena Filipova,Ruslan Stefanov / Language(s): English

On the 31st anniversary of the beginning of the democratic transition in Bulgaria, the Bulgarians' attitudes towards democracy remain equivocal. In this analysis, based on a special poll carried out by GLOBSEC, Slovakia, CSD highlights the key dimensions of the Bulgarian population's attitudes towards the preferred form of governance, justice, traditional values and trust in the media. One of the key findings is that democratic norms and principles continue to be unconsolidated within Bulgarian society as a greater proportion of Bulgarians favor a 'strongman' model of leadership, unobstructed by elections or parliament, over а liberal democratic system. These results suggest that Bulgaria needs to put special efforts in order to shore off authoritarian tendencies and nurture democratic traditions.

10+1 Good Practices in Preventing Intolerance, Discrimination, and Group Hatred in Central and Eastern Europe

10+1 Good Practices in Preventing Intolerance, Discrimination, and Group Hatred in Central and Eastern Europe

Author(s): Gergana Tzvetkova / Language(s): English

This compendium was created by the consortium members of the CEE Prevent Net initiative. Its development is the result of a robust exchange of good practice methods among various organizations and civil society actors in the areas of youth work and (non-formal) education aimed at preventing intolerance, discrimination, and right-wing populism and extremism in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. Initially, this volume was supposed to present 10 good practices for working with young people directly; however, the CEE Prevent Net network decided to expand this initial enterprise gratuitously. This additional section provides youth workers, educators, and other civic actors with recommendations and advocacy strategies for youth work that fosters tolerance, facilitates dialogue, and prevents discrimination and far right ideologies.

Migration to the EU. A Review of Narratives and Approaches

Migration to the EU. A Review of Narratives and Approaches

Author(s): Petra Saskia Bayerl,Karen Latricia Hough,David Pannocchia,Miriana Ilcheva,Dimitar Markov,Madalina Rogoz,Nesrine Ben Brahim,Rut Bermejo,Isabel Bazaga,Manuel Tamayo,Theoni Spathi,Giorgos Kampas,Dimitra Papadaki,Katerina Georgakopoulou,Lore Van Praag,Rut Van Caudenberg / Language(s): English

Keywords: migration narratives; European Union; migration

The aim of this brochure is to present current knowledge on migration narratives about the European Union (EU) and current approaches to migration since 2015 across the 15 countries in which PERCEPTIONS research is conducted. It maps the landscape of narratives on migration and Europe as a basis to understand migration flows and decisions as well as migration-related policies, perceived threats, and best practices to address migration challenges on local, national and international levels.

Accelerated lignite exit in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece

Accelerated lignite exit in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece

Author(s): Martin Vladimirov,Todor Galev,Radostina Primova / Language(s): English

In light of the ambitious targets for long term decarbonisation set by the European Green Deal, a critical question for decision-makers is how to sustain a coal phase-out that is as swift as possible while also ensuring security of supply, affordable electricity, and a just transition in regions dependent on coal. The aim of this report is to support decision makers in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania to implement a timely phase-out of coal by analysing the impact on electricity systems as well as the local economy, and highlighting policy recommendations to deal with potential issues related to compensation, system security and local economic impacts.

FAIRNESS: Comparative Legal Research

FAIRNESS: Comparative Legal Research

Author(s): Mara Fallini,Tatyana Novossiolova,Sergio Bianchi,Joana Apóstolo,Pedro das Neves,Irina van der Vet / Language(s): English

The present report emphasises the essential need for upholding the established principles and standards of criminal justice in the context of counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation. In particular, the report argues that observing criminal justice requirements in radicalisation- and terror-rated cases is a key prerequisite for developing effective and sustainable counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation trust-based strategies and approaches that enhance civil and national security. Part 2 of the report provides a thematic overview of the applicable international and EU, in order to examine how the concepts of terrorism and radicalisation are treated as legal subjects. Part 3 looks into the existing international, EU, and national legal instruments for protecting the criminal procedural rights of suspects and accused. Part 4 reviews ongoing international and national efforts that aim to safeguard criminal procedural rights in the context of counter-terrorism with a particular emphasis on the securitisation debate and its implications for the EU domestic and foreign policy.

Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in Bulgaria

Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in Bulgaria

Author(s): Atanas Rusev,Anton Kojouharov / Language(s): English

Bulgaria remains one of the significant source countries for labour trafficking in Europe, although the problem has not been on the priority list of institutions for a long time being overshadowed by the problem with trafficking for sexual exploitation. The predominant part of labour trafficking follows simple business models, whereby victims are recruited and exploited without any formal contracts in economic sectors such as agriculture, construction, cleaning and senior care. However there is a growing new trend of employing legitimate business structures in order to conceal trafficking activities. In many of these cases labour trafficking is intertwined with various forms of tax and social contributions evasion or fraud and traffickers make use of schemes for bogus self-employment or posting of workers abroad. The working paper explores the modus operandi of traffickers, the business model and the financial flows associated with trafficking for labour exploitation.

Financial Compensation Guide: Cases concerning Women Victims of Crime

Financial Compensation Guide: Cases concerning Women Victims of Crime

Author(s): Silvia Antoaneta Berbec,Gabriel Diaconu,Miriana Ilcheva,Maria Mousmouti,Georgia Palaiologou,Aikaterini Pournara,Flaminia Delle Cese,Marta Martínez Sierra,Itxaso Sasiain Villanueva,Ana García Barbeito,Sara Saavedra Garlito,Alida Fombona Álvarez / Language(s): English

A significant percentage of all victims of crime are women. Violence against women is a widespread problem throughout the European Union and there is a need to do more in order to protect women, including better access to the criminal justice system. In practice there are still many challenges that women victims face when claiming compensation, such as: lack of comprehensive information on financial compensation, difficulties in receiving compensation from the offender, costly procedures, restrictive time limits, insufficient access to legal assistance. // This publication addresses judges and prosecutors involved in criminal cases, where financial compensation should be awarded to women victims of crime. It is also targeting lawyers that provide legal assistance to such victims. The publication addresses topics such as European and national legal framework concerning financial compensation, relevant indicators and evidence to assess pecuniary and nonpecuniary damages suffered by women victims of crime. The publication was elaborated as part of the initiative JUSTICE FOR WOMEN – Towards a more effective rights protection and access to judicial procedures for victims of crimes.