Consistent socio-economic policies oriented towards the young and the vulnerable are a necessity to handle the demographic shifts in Bulgaria. We need to create an enabling environment that offers development prospects for young people and all vulnerable social groups in order to achieve demographic resilience. This is what Head of State Rumen Radev said at his Tuesday meeting at 2 Dondukov Blvd with Dr. Natalia Kanem, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Population Fund. Vice President Iliana Iotova also attended the meeting.

The meeting took place ahead of Bulgaria's hosting of a Ministerial Conference on Demographic Resilience. The forum will be held under President Radev's auspices and will convene government representatives from Europe and Central Asia.  The Bulgarian President highlighted the weighty contribution of the UN Population Fund to the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

"Bulgaria is among the countries with serious demographic problems, which stem from the emigration of many young people and the ensuing high levels of population ageing," President Radev stressed. In the Head of State's words, the modernisation of the Bulgarian economy, the improvement of the quality of education, the guarantee of the citizens' security and the restoration of the sense of social justice are among the most important steps to overcome the demographic challenges.

Dr. Natalia Kanem mentioned various challenges facing Bulgaria, as well as the institutions' efforts to bring the problems of sustainable demographic development into the public spotlight. Dr. Kanem also praised the initiatives of the presidential institution aimed at providing support for disadvantaged young people and ensuring access to timely medical treatment and specialised assistance for children in need.