site.btaDemographic Crisis Is Biggest Challenge Bulgaria Must Overcome, Says Head of Managing Authority of Human Resources Development Programme
Bulgaria is facing a number of challenges, including the digital transformation and the green transition, but the demographic picture, which is extremely negative, is perhaps the biggest challenge the country must overcome in order to be preserved as a nation, Tsvetan Spasov, Head of the Managing Authority of the Human Resources Development Programme at the Labor and Social Policy Ministry, said during the closing conference held here on Monday. The event was part of BTA’s Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.
He presented the Discover Bulgaria campaign, developed together with the European Commission, which is aimed at Bulgarians living abroad. Spasov stressed that in the past 35 years, over 2.5 million people have left Bulgaria, going abroad to seek better opportunities, and over 80% of them have higher education and high qualifications. “We must take measures to try to draw them back. These are people who would return with new knowledge, with increased qualifications, with enthusiasm, with optimism, ready to fight to prove themselves back in their homeland,” he said.
He noted that the first component of this campaign, which has a budget of BGN 60 million, provides financial incentives for people returning to Bulgaria, including up to 12 months of accommodation costs, 12 months of transport costs, the opportunity for subsidized employment and organizing a career consultant from the Employment Agency to find the most suitable employer. “We have also provided the opportunity for free Bulgarian language courses, including for family members. There is also the opportunity to participate in various forms of training that are provided in Bulgaria,” Spasov emphasized.
The second component of the campaign is aimed at people who live in large cities, but wish to work in smaller settlements with less than 50,000 residents. It also provides a financial incentive for moving household goods, the possibility of subsidized employment, the inclusion of training, affordable quality health care, the inclusion of children in kindergartens and schools.
The goal is that no less than 1,000 families will return to Bulgaria and 1,000 others will be given the opportunity to move to smaller places in order to begin to overcome depopulation, Spasov pointed out. He said that in addition, another BGN 60 million have been earmarked to promote entrepreneurship specifically for Northern Bulgaria. The funds will support over 1,000 entrepreneurs who would like to develop a business plan and receive up to BGN 50,000 for the implementation of their business ideas. Spasov added that another BGN 90 million will be available throughout the entire programming period until the end of 2029 as free loans of up to BGN 10,000 for anyone who decides to engage in entrepreneurship.
BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
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