On 22 July at the Centre for Human Resource Development and Regional Initiatives was held the first meeting of the Council for Regional Initiatives. The meeting was officially opened and chaired by Mr. Ivan Penev а General Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MLSP).

A Council Regional Initiatives (CRI) was created to support the regional activity of the Centre. The purpose (main objective) of the Council is developing ideas for projects and programmes for future cooperation with foreign partners and international organizations.

The Council consists of experts from units in human resources and international links in the MLSP and second level appropriations to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, and representatives of other administrations.

The event was attended by representatives from the following institutions: the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Agency for Social Assistance, Employment Agency, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Executive Agency General Labour Inspectorate, the State Agency for Protection Child and the Institute of Public Administration and European Integration.

The future activity of the Council is directly related to regional cooperation of the Centre with an international focus, and with the organization and conduct of various international initiatives such as training, discussions, forums, exchange information and best practices, development projects and programmes with foreign partners and international organizations.

The representatives of the Executive Agency General Labour Inspectorate "offered ideas for two initiatives: Regional initiative to strengthen cooperation between labour inspectorates" related to the strengthening of the inspection activity in the region of South East Europe, a prerequisite for further development human resources by providing a safe and healthy working conditions.
The second idea proposed by the "Executive Agency General Labour Inspectorate "is related to the organization of joint regional inspection campaign for emerging risks in the workplace.

Before the Council members was offered the Employment Agency proposal (suggestion) - "Initiative for an exchange of best practices in the integration of risk groups in the labour market ". In the context of existing cooperation between public employment services in the region of Southeast Europe, Employment Agency offers at the end of 2008 or the beginning of 2009 to organise training for the exchange of best practices for integrating risk groups in the labour market.
In general the three proposals for regional initiatives were approved by the Council.

The next meeting was scheduled for the beginning of September, when will be considered the work programmes of the upcoming regional initiatives.