As a Member State of the European Union, Bulgaria is part of the common European efforts to create a working and modern vision of a social Europe, taking into account the challenges in the field of poverty and social exclusion. In the context of the European Semester and the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) on Social Inclusion and Social Protection, MLSP participates in various meeting formats at the European level, as well as in the development and presentation of national reports, questionnaires, positions and opinions in the field of social inclusion. An essential aspect of the policy in the field of social inclusion within the framework of the European Semester is the participation in the development and reporting of the implementation of the National Reform Programme and in the development of the national position regarding the Country Specific Recommendations to the Member States in the field of poverty reduction and promotion of social inclusion.
The National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Inclusion 2030 (adopted by Decision No. 976/31.12.2020 of the Council of Ministers and updated by Decision No. 368/02.06.2022 of the Council of Ministers) is the leading strategic document, which sets the vision, objectives and measures for the development of the policy in the field of poverty and social exclusion in Bulgaria until 2030. For the implementation of the National Strategy, an Action Plan for the period 2021-2022 was adopted (by Decision No. 553/28.07.2021 of the Council of Ministers), which includes specific measures and activities, indicators, responsible institutions, sources and amount of funding and deadlines for implementation.
In accordance with the Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European target to reduce poverty by 2030, Bulgaria has set a national target to reduce poverty and social inclusion by 2030 ("Reducing the number of persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 787,000 people by 2030"). A specific sub-target has been also set and it places a special focus on the reduction of child poverty ("Reducing the number of children under 18 years at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 196,750 persons" (25% of the general national target).
As a body for coordination, cooperation and consultation in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of state policy in the field of social inclusion, the main functions of the National Council on Social Inclusion to the Council of Ministers are related to the formulation of proposals for development of strategies, programmes, action plans and other strategic documents, as well as providing opinions on drafts of strategic documents in the field of social inclusion.
National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Inclusion 2030 (Updated by Council of Ministers Decision № 368/02.06.2022)
2015-2016 Action Plan for implementation of the National Strategy for Reducing Poverty and Promoting Social Inclusion, 2020
National Strategy for Reducing Poverty and Promoting Social Inclusion, 2020
National Social Report of the Republic of Bulgaria, 2013 – 2014
National Social Report of the Republic of Bulgaria 2011-2012
Republic of Bulgaria’s National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion, 2008-2010
Republic of Bulgaria’s National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion, 2006-2008
Joint Memorandum of Social Inclusion in the Republic of Bulgaria
Rules on the Organisation and Activity of the National Council on Social Inclusion at the Council of Ministers