On January 14, 2025, at 1:00 PM in Hall 420, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Zlatinov, head of the project "Adapting the labour market to socio-economic dynamics, technological modernisation, demographic change, and educational restructuring in the context of euro area membership" delivered a report titled "Macroeconomic Effects of Eurozone Accession and Expected Impact on the Labour Market" as part of the Scientific Seminar of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Zlatinov focused on four main points:

1. The Eurozone and the Monetary Policy Strategy of the European Central Bank
2. Transmission Mechanisms, Spillover, and External Effects of Eurozone Monetary Policy
3. Labour Market Conditions in Selected Eurozone Member States
4. The Experience of Other Countries – Lessons for Bulgaria

A key emphasis was placed on the potential effects on the labour market, illustrated through the experience of countries that have already joined the Eurozone, such as Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Important conclusions were drawn regarding the dynamics of net migration, employment, and unemployment observed in these countries during their accession to the Exchange Rate Mechanism II (ERM II) and subsequent membership in the Eurozone.

"The major risk for Bulgaria lies in its low real convergence and the shrinking pool of highly educated labour, which hinders the transition to high-productivity employment and accelerated economic growth", noted Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Zlatinov.

The subsequent discussion involved project team members from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as well as colleagues from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University and Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”. Opinions and viewpoints were exchanged regarding expected changes in the labour market in the Eurozone, considering the structural specifics of the Bulgarian economy.