Conference in Sofia Discusses Migration, Demographics, and Labour Market Challenges

Konstantin Karagyozov

Problems and challenges facing European countries, migration, and its impact on the labour market are discussed by MPs and representatives of the non-governmental sector at a conference in Sofia organized by the French NGO Patriots Network and the Vazrazhdane party, February 21, 2026 (BTA Photo/Nikola Uzunov)

Sofia,

21.02.2026 13:45

(BTA)

Problems and challenges facing European countries, migration, and its impact on the labour market were discussed by MPs and representatives of the non-governmental sector at a conference in Sofia organized by the French NGO Patriots Network and the Vazrazhdane party.

The most important issue for people who identify as patriots, traditionalists, and conservatives is “whether we will exist or not,” said Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov. According to him, Bulgaria is the European country with the fastest-declining population. He said that some 48,000 children were born in 2025, compared with some 53,000 in 2024, which represents a 10% decrease. He added that it is unclear what Europe’s reality will look like given current demographic trends. Kostadinov also said that Europeans face a problem related to the survival of civilization itself and that culture is in crisis.

Birth rates should be encouraged and resources should be invested in capital investments that increase productivity, said Vazrazhdane MP Kliment Shopov. According to him, the key to addressing low productivity and the higher cost of Bulgarian and European goods and services is not the hiring of labour from third countries.

Economist Georgi Vuldzhev commented that it is important for the labour market to be flexible and for integration into it to be easy. He pointed to the need for investment in new and modern technologies. In his view, efforts should focus on engaging young people in the economic life of their home countries. Social systems should also be reviewed so that they are more aligned with the needs of young people, Vuldzhev added.

Igor Peternel from the European Conservatives and Reformists party stressed the need for young people who leave their countries to have a pathway to return.

Vazrazhdane MP Viktor Papazov commented on Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone. In his view, all the tools available to the eurozone, although they currently provide stability, do not create opportunities for growth. Combined with EU regulations and the third energy package – the Green Deal – Europe’s economy is doomed to catastrophe, he said.

/KK/