Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov briefed visiting European Commission Executive Vice President Roxana Minzatu on the efforts of the Bulgarian government and his ministry to provide adequate care to elderly people, the ministry said on Tuesday. Gutsanov told the guest about inspections at illegal nursing homes and Labour Ministry plans to search out vacant municipal-owned buildings which can house residential centres for elderly people in accordance with the relevant standards.

Pointing to the need for a lasting solution to the issue, he said Bulgaria will seek support from the European Commission. Gutsanov and Minzatu concurred that Europe has a growing need to develop social services for the elderly as its population ages.

Minzatu, who is responsible for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness in the European Commission, said that the demographic challenge is becoming increasingly prominent in Europe and should be taken into account while making plans. According to her, people possessing the necessary skills should be drawn and retained in the social services sector to support sustainable care for the elderly. This will be addressed through the European Care Package to ensure that both professional and informal social workers are well-paid and protected. The European Commission is always open to dialogue on this matter, the guest said.

Gutsanov insisted that the cooked lunch service in Bulgaria, supported financially by the European Social Fund Plus until September 30, should be prolonged. Minzatu agreed that people at risk of poverty and social exclusion should be supported. She stressed the important role of EU social funds in supporting people in their everyday life.

After the meeting, Gutsanov and Minzatu opened the exhibition “Talent Without Borders” in the lobby of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy featuring self-taught painter Fanka Borisova. Fanka has lived in various social care institutions for children and adults. In November 2023, with the Labour Ministry’s assistance, she was placed in a protected home for people with mental disabilities in Pernik, west of Sofia. She shared the place with only seven other people. The protected home had been built on funding under Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2014-2020. It is currently subsidized from the state budget.