21
11
November 2024
Discussion Forum
Business and Civil Society: Partners for a Better Civic Space
Sofia Tech Park, Sofia, Bulgaria
Start in:
Business and Civil Society: Partners for a Better Civic Space
of
the Event
The discussion forum aims to raise awareness among CSOs, the business community, media, and society in general about the threats of “foreign agent” legislation and how similar draft or adopted laws have led to restrictions on civil society and negative impacts on the business sector. More specifically, the forum aims to:
- Inform participants and society about the dangers of such legislation and how it has been used and abused in other countries.
- Show the importance of cooperation between the different sectors of society and a united stand against restrictions on civic space in Bulgaria.
- Serve as a call to action for organizations to work jointly and show the negative impact that civic space restrictions can have on Bulgarian society.
Registration and Coffee
Welcoming Remarks
Speakers:
Evgeni Ivanov, Executive Director, Confederation of the Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB)
Sirpa Rautio, Director, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) (video)
Nancy Schiller, President & CEO, America for Bulgaria Foundation
Business and Civil Society
Impact of the Foreign Agent Legislation on Georgian Business
Speakers:
George Welton, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia (online)
Regional Perspectives from Russia, Hungary, and Georgia
Moderator:
Luben Panov, Program Director, America for Bulgaria Foundation
Speakers:
David Vig, Director, Amnesty International (Hungary)
Tamar Gurchiani, Deputy Chief of Party, USAID Civil Society Engagement Program (Georgia)
Kirill Koroteev, Human Rights Lawyer (Russia)
The Perspective of Bulgarian and International Businesses
Moderator:
Dobromir Ivanov, Executive Director, BESCO – The Bulgarian Entrepreneurial Association
Speakers:
Zornitsa Rusinova, President, Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria
Mariyan Ivanov, Manager, DTC Sofia Commerzbank
Raycho Raychev, Executive Director, Endurosat
Tenko Nikolov, CEO, SiteGround
Part 1. Closing Remarks
Speaker:
Petia Dimitrova, Chief Executive Director and Chair of the Management Board of Postbank and Chair of the Management Board of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria (ABB)
Lunch
Civil Society
Breakout Sessions
Communication: The Civil Society Perspective
Moderator:
Emanuela Ivanova, Director, TimeHeroes
Speakers:
Balazs Denes, Executive Director, Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Germany)
Tamar Gurchiani, Deputy Chief of Party, USAID Civil Society Engagement Program (Georgia)
Balint Farkas, Civilization Coalition (Hungary)
Lessons from Eastern Europe
Moderator:
Teodora Bakardzhieva, Executive Director, Bulgarian Donors Forum
Speakers:
Veronika Mora, Okotars (Hungary)
Katarzyna Batko-Toluc, Foundation for Poland (Poland)
Giorgi Kldiashvili, Executive Director of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (Georgia)
The European Perspective
Moderator:
Louisa Slavkova, Executive Director, Sofia Platform Foundation
Speakers:
David Vig, Director, Amnesty International (Hungary)
Hanna Surmatz, Head of Policy, Philea (Belgium)
Waltraud Heller, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Coffee Break
Part 2. Closing Remarks
Moderator:
Atanas Politov, Director for Europe “Positive Impact and Pro Bono,” Dentons
Speakers:
Nadya Shabani, Executive Director, Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law
Miroslav Tsekov, Chair, Civic Participation Forum
for a Better Civic Space
Opinions and positions on BG FARA
Local resources
- BESCO’s statement on the Foreign Agents Registration Draft Law.
- Explanatory video from the Central News broadcast of the Bulgarian National Television - “Fact Check: Is the Bulgarian Foreign Agents Bill identical to the American law?”, author Maya Dimitrova.
- Bulgarian Center for Not-for-profit Law’s statement on the meeting of the Culture and Media Committee on 19.09.2024.
- Position of the leadership of the Confederation of Independent Bulgarian Trade Unions on the Foreign Agents Registration Draft Law.
International resources
- BESCO’s statement on the Foreign Agents Registration Draft Law.
- Explanatory video from the Central News broadcast of the Bulgarian National Television - “Fact Check: Is the Bulgarian Foreign Agents Bill identical to the American law?”, author Maya Dimitrova.
- Bulgarian Center for Not-for-profit Law’s statement on the meeting of the Culture and Media Committee on 19.09.2024.
- Position of the leadership of the Confederation of Independent Bulgarian Trade Unions on the Foreign Agents Registration Draft Law.
Statement
BESCO’s statement on the Foreign Agents Registration Draft Law.
BNT
Explanatory video from the Central News broadcast of the Bulgarian National Television - “Fact Check: Is the Bulgarian Foreign Agents Bill identical to the American law?”, author Maya Dimitrova.
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Sofia, Bulgaria,
111G, Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd.
Sofia Tech Park