A two-day conference on the grey economy in Bulgaria, its structure and impact on the country's future, as well as the ways to fight it started in Sofia on October 25. Organizers of the event are the Centre for Social Practices and the Centre for Anthropologic Studies with the New Bulgarian University. While in 1999 and 2000, the scope and influence of the grey economy were relatively limited, 2001 saw an increase in its share, Krassen Stanchev of the Institute of Market Economy pointed out. Zhelyazko Hristov, leader of the Confederation of Independent Syndicates in Bulgaria warned that if this trend persists Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union in 2007 is impossible. According to estimates of the trade unions the grey economy takes up some 40% of the national economy. The labour force getting involved in it is constantly increasing. All participants in the conference agreed that foreign investors are the best way to fight the grey economy.

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