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  • Daniela Ilieva, Dragomir Iliev
    THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL HETEROGENEITY ON THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION PROCESS
    JEL: F55, O52
    Keywords: European Union, integration, cultural differences
    Summary: After sixty years of integration, the idea of a united Europe has been put to the test. The purpose of this article is to put to discussion the degree of integration achievable between the member states. European Union integration which has been achieved so far is evaluated in the light of the three schools for regional integration: neoliberal models, the dirigiste school and structuralism. A new division of integration forms is proposed: technical and substantial integration. Technical integration is exogenous in nature and refers to the objects of integration, while substantial integration is endogenous and refers to the subjects of integration. The article focuses on cultural differences in the EU as a factor underlying substantial integration.
  • Silvia Toneva, Kristina Stefanova
    PROMOTING THE PARTICIPATION OF SMEs IN DUAL TRAINING IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN BULGARIA
    JEL: E24, I21, I26, O52
    Keywords: dual training, SMEs, NUTS 2, educational structure of the population, youth unemployment.
    Summary: The aim of the paper is to make recommendations for the development of the dual system in Bulgaria in terms of increasing the participation of SMEs and taking into account the regional specificities of the educational structure of the population and youth unemployment. Financial incentives, a large-scale information campaign and visibility of participating enterprises are some of the important factors to encourage SMEs to become partners in the dual system. In order to ensure a wider participation of enter¬prises, it is important to gradually increase financial incentives (through support in the form of grants, tax relief, etc.). The existing differences between regions in Bulgaria suggest that a more substantial incentive for SMEs to become partners in dual training could be achieved by applying a regional criterion. When planning measures for the development of the dual training system in Bulgaria, efforts should be made to cover more persons at risk of dropping out of the education system and persons who will not enter higher education.