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The Parliament adopted the National Youth Strategy 2021-2030, despite the identified weaknesses during the debate in the plenary hall.

It is expected that the document will subsequently be updated.

The strategy was supported by 130 MPs, 25 from "Vazrazhdane" were "against" and one MP from "Democratic Bulgaria" abstained.

"Vazrazhdane" suggested that the strategy should not be adopted hastily, but that it should be given the opportunity to eliminate its shortcomings.

However, other political forces noted that the strategy is two years late, and it is a major strategic tool for planning youth policies with a 10-year horizon. 

We will support the strategy, despite the remarks on the document, and we will expect its recent update, said Krasen Kralev (GERB-SDS), chairman of the parliamentary committee on youth and sports.

Despite its imperfections, we believe it is imperative to adopt this strategy, because otherwise national youth programs cannot be implemented, he added.

Kosta Stoyanov ("Vazrazhdane") pointed out that two or three months are not fatal, but will be quite enough for the relevant ministry to improve the texts and for a good strategy to be proposed already in the opening days of the 49th National Assembly. 

We have no guarantee that the first thing that will enter the next parliament will be the strategy, comments Ivan Chenchev ("BSP for Bulgaria").

So let us accept it now with all its caveats, he urged.

According to him, the strategy is far from perfect, but it is necessary.

It will be updated, it won't stay like this, he pointed out.

According to Chenchev, the strategy sets itself ambitious tasks and it is not by chance that it is titled "Engagement, Empowerment, Development".

If we continue like this, we will not have a strategy until 2030, commented Daniela Dasheva ("Bulgarian Rise") on the proposal of "Vazrazhdane".

She pointed out that the document was started in 2018 and it is no coincidence that it hides weaknesses. 

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In the course of the debate, it was pointed out that some of the data in the strategy were not up-to-date, and there was no mention of aggression among the youth and of dealing with addictions.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Petar Buchkov commented that in order to update the document, it must first be adopted.

He pointed out that much of the statistical information is incomplete and unavailable to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Buchkov announced that the Ministry has already concluded an agreement with the National Statistical Institute to submit exactly what they want to be taken out in the target group 15-29 years and to work with clear and accurate statistics.

According to him, the strategy should primarily deal with the field of young people's free time.

The National Youth Strategy 2021-2030 sets out two main areas of action - creating an environment for socialization and development in the free time of young people and improving the capacity of youth organizations and organizations that work with and for young people.

It relates to the priority areas of education and skills, smart industry, digital connectivity, local development, social inclusion, health and sports, cultural diversity and access to culture, the report of the parliamentary committee on education and science states, notes BTA.

National Assembly

strategy