Равенството между половете

Bulgaria scored 65.1 points out of 100 in the European Institute for Gender Equality index in 2023, reaching 16th place. That was up two positions from 2022, when it scored 60.7 points, and a 10.1-point improvement from 2010.[1] The biggest progress came in the "time" category, the disparity between women and men in unpaid care and domestic work (+19.9 points), and the "power" category, the gap in political, social, and economic representation and in positions of authority (+16.9 points). Bulgaria’s best ranking of 2023 was in "power", in which it came 11th out of the EU member states with a score of 62.7 points. Despite this progress, Bulgaria ranked last among all member states in "money" – the gap between women and men in financial resources and economic situation – with a score of 67 points. That was a 2.0-point improvement from 2020 but still behind other EU Member States. 

In 2022, the average number of unemployed persons registered at labour offices in Bulgaria was 147,804, an 18.6% decrease from 2021. Data on unemployed people not registered in their offices is lacking, giving only a partial picture of the unemployment issue. The Report on the Equality of Women and Men in Bulgaria for 2023 has not yet been adopted at the moment of drafting of this report.  The report is coordinated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and contains the information provided by different institutions and organizations on the implementation of measures, activities and initiatives, including those set out in the National Action Plan for Promoting the Equality of Women and Men 2023-2024. The average monthly unemployment rate for 2022 was 4.5%, down by 1% from 2021. Women made up more than half the unemployed – reflecting a trend in Bulgaria - starting work being women. In addition, 70.5% of unemployed individuals who had) were women. The Report on the Equality of Women and Men in Bulgaria for 2022 highlights an increase in the number of employed people compared to previous years[2]. However, data from the National Statistics Institute (NSI) shows that the overall employment rate for women in 2022 was much lower, at 48.5%. The gender pay gap in 2022 was 12,6%, the most recent data available.[3] However, according to a different criterion from the NSI that defines the “management position” with a wider scope, the proportion of women in high-level management positions, such as board memberships, increased by 3.5 percentage points.

Women are underrepresented in politics too. Early elections for the Bulgarian parliament were held on 9 June 2024, the same day as the European Parliament elections. In the resulting 50th National Assembly, the number of women increased to 27 out of 240 members. This rise in representation was partly thanks to the populist party Greatness, which had 13 assembly members, six of whom were women.[4]  After the 2024 European Parliament elections, there were four women out of a total of 17 Bulgarian members.[5]

The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for promoting equality and continues to focus on five priority areas: equal economic independence, the pay gap, equality in decision-making processes, violence and victim protection, and societal stereotypes. Little is known about the progress in each priority area, as the 2022 report on gender equality in Bulgaria, adopted by the Council of Ministers, primarily presents statistics and familiar facts related to the powers of various institutions. It does not provide an in-depth analysis of the measures being implemented in this field or of their impact.[6]

Включване на мигранти, бежанци, лица, търсещи убежище, малцинства и уязвими групи

According to the European Union Agency for Asylum, EU countries granted protection to more than 4.3 million individuals in 2023. Bulgaria experienced considerable pressure, with 3,500 asylum applications per 1 million inhabitants. However, the actual number of migrants entering Bulgaria is likely much higher, as many arrive undocumented or do not submit asylum applications. Bulgaria was also among the top five countries receiving the most applications from self-identified unaccompanied minors in 2023.[7]

Since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, more than 2.2 million refugees have passed through Bulgaria. At least 52,780 remained in the country as of February 2024, of whom the majority were women and children.[8] Temporary protection has been granted by Bulgaria to over 174,622 individuals since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, according to the asylum report published by the United Nations Refugee Agency.[9] Bulgaria has implemented a humanitarian assistance programme for Ukrainian refugees since the start of the invasion, providing state-funded accommodation in government facilities and hotels for those under temporary protection. This programme was most recently extended until 31 July 2024. The Ministry of Finance reported in 2023 that the state spent 56 million leva (BGN – equivalent to €28.6 million) on housing Ukrainian refugees in hotels.[10]

Ukrainian citizens granted temporary protection in Bulgaria are eligible for social assistance under the same conditions as Bulgarian citizens. Exceptional assistance is provided in case of emergencies (such as an unexpected medical expense or a funeral, for example) resulting in unexpected expenses that a family cannot cover from its own funds. Since June 2023, the maximum aid amount has been 1,578 BGN (€806), which is a significant increase from the previous limit of 375 BGN (€191).[11] Under the Asylum and Refugee Law, foreign nationals benefiting from temporary protection, including Ukrainians, have the right to register at labour offices and are entitled to the same social services as Bulgarian citizens. They can participate in subsidised employment and training programmes, start their own businesses, or find suitable employment. In 2023, 2,180 Ukrainian citizens used employment services in Bulgaria.

Младежка заетост

Bulgaria's youth unemployment rate stood at 16% in March 2024, 1.4 percentage points higher than the EU average of 14.6%.[12] This marked a significant increase from 9.7% in the same period in 2023. In comparison, Bulgaria’s overall unemployment rate was 4.4% in March 2024.

Another factor is that most jobs are concentrated in the capital and larger cities, and young people tend to have low mobility due to limited resources to cover rent and transportation. The younger generation also appears to place greater value on work-life balance, and some young people rely on their parents, reducing the need to enter the workforce.

[1] European Institute for Gender Equality (2023), Gender Equality Index – Bulgaria: https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2023/country/BG

[2] Ministerial Council of the Republic of Bulgaria (2023), Draft Decision on the adoption of the Report on the equality of women and men in Bulgaria for 2022: https://pris.government.bg/document/d8b6dd5fac04266fab4c4d3ae0944897

[3] Republic of Bulgaria National Statistical Institute (2024), Gender pay gap: https://www.nsi.bg/en/content/3976/gender-pay-gap

[4] National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria (2024), 50th National Assembly Members of Parliament: Members of parliament - National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria

[5] European Parliament (2024), MEPs Bulgaria: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/advanced?countryCode=BG

[6] National Statistical Institute (2024): https://www.nsi.bg/bg/content/19415/%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BB-5-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0

[7] European Union Agency for Asylum (2024), Asylum Report 2024 : https://euaa.europa.eu/asylum-knowledge/asylum-report

[8] IOM Bulgaria (2024), Ukraine response: https://bulgaria.iom.int/ukraine-response

[9]  Operational Data Portal (2024), Staying safe : inter-agency insights on protection and accountability for refugees from Ukraine: https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/109562

[10] Ministerial Council of the Republic of Bulgaria (2024), Decision 297 / 26.4.2024 : https://pris.government.bg/document/7a4136cab07eacfa81cd7e97a0218c09

[11] Mediapool.bg (2024), What social support do Ukrainian refugees in Europe receive? https://www.mediapool.bg/kakva-sotsialna-podkrepa-poluchavat-ukrainskite-bezhantsi-v-evropa-news360988.html

[12] Eurostat (2024), Euro area unemployment at 6.5%: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-euro-indicators/w/3-03052024-ap

Баланс между работата и живота

During the COVID-19 restrictions, 37% of workers in the EU began working from home, according to data from the European Parliament.[1] Although remote work helped save many jobs and businesses during the pandemic, it also blurred the boundaries between personal and professional time and led people to work unpaid overtime, the NSG points out.[2]

In March 2024, Bulgaria’s National Assembly adopted amendments to the Labour Code specifically regulating remote work.[3] [4] Under the new rules, employees can have more than one remote workplace, subject to the fulfilment of specific conditions, which gives them more flexibility. In addition, workers are not required to respond to their supervisors outside working hours or during daily and weekly rest periods when working remotely, unless their individual or collective labour agreement specifies otherwise. This will be an important step towards guaranteeing the right to disconnect, at least on paper. The new rules state that the place and nature of remote work, along with the conditions and procedures for carrying it out, must be outlined in the individual employment contract, potentially increasing the transparency of working conditions. The contract or internal employer regulations may also establish rules for assigning and accounting for remote work in terms of working time, including its content, scope, and results. Remote workers are required to provide their employer with written information about their workplace, so that the employer can ensure that all remote work locations comply with minimum health and safety standards. The NSG will closely monitor the implementation of these new regulations and assess their impact on both employees and employers.

[1] European Parliament (2021), Parliament wants to ensure the right to disconnect from work: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20210121STO96103/parliament-wants-to-ensure-the-right-to-disconnect-from-work

[2] Eurofund (2020), COVID-19 unleashed the potential for telework – How are workers coping? https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/blog/2020/covid-19-unleashed-potential-telework-how-are-workers-coping

[3] KNSB (2024), What's new in remote working conditions: https://knsb-bg.org/index.php/2024/05/21/kakvo-novo-v-usloviyata-za-rabota-ot-razstoyanie/

[4] National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria (2024), The National Assembly decided to approve a new List of Professions for Vocational Education and Training: https://www.parliament.bg/bg/news/ID/6000

Access to quality healthcare

The NSG highlights that one of the primary concerns regarding healthcare in Bulgaria is the excessively high percentage of co-payments, which has been a longstanding issue. Co-payments refer to the costs not covered by health insurance, which patients must pay out of pocket. The budget for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for 2024 is over 8 billion BGN (around €4 billion). However, official data indicate that additional payments amount to approximately €1.4 billion, which constitutes around 40% of total health expenditures.

Statistics indicate that Bulgaria faces significant healthcare costs, with around 240,000 surgical procedures and health interventions requiring hospital admission each year.[1] Patients typically incur multiple forms of co-payment, averaging €1,022 per surgical procedure and contributing to an overall expenditure of approximately €18 million. With over 1.5 million chronically ill individuals, average monthly co-payments range from €26 to €51, leading to additional healthcare costs of up to €1.5 billion annually. The high rate of co-payments for medication prompted a decision that took effect in April 2024, allowing the National Health Insurance Fund to fully cover 56 kinds of medication for home treatment of high blood pressure and heart arrhythmia. About 650,000 individuals suffering from cardiovascular diseases in Bulgaria will benefit from this change.

Statistics show that 69% of cancer patients in Bulgaria incur an average out-of-pocket expense of €766 for their treatment. A national survey conducted by Hospital Index involving 417 patients revealed that 26% received limited healthcare services. The costs of cancer treatment are not fully covered by the National Health Insurance Fund, the Ministry of Health, or local authorities, prompting many patients to seek treatment abroad, including in countries such as Turkey.[2] According to the NSG, a comprehensive analysis of the expenditure trends of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is essential, as healthcare costs rise each year despite the fund's increasing budget.

[1] BNR (2024), 40 percent of drug costs in our country are covered by patients: https://bnr.bg/varna/post/101975422/40-na-sto-ot-razhodite-za-lekarstva-u-nas-se-pokrivat-ot-pacientite

[2] Clinica.bg (2024), 69% of cancer patients pay extra: https://clinica.bg/28224-69-ot-pacientite-s-onkologichni-zabolqvaniq-doplashtat

Involvement of civil society organizations in civil society

The CIVICUS Monitor classifies Bulgaria’s civic space as "Narrowed," a status unchanged since 2018.[1] This classification indicates that, while individuals and civil society organizations can exercise their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and expression, these rights are often violated through harassment, arrests, or assaults against critics of those in power, as well as through excessive force during protests and political pressure on the media.

Bulgaria improved its position in the Reporters Without Borders index of media freedom in 2024, climbing 12 places to 59th in the ranking of 180 countries.[2]

This improvement can be attributed to several factors, particularly the actions of the interim government, which has demonstrated a willingness to increase media freedom. The Index highlights that, in comparison with other EU countries, media freedom is relatively well preserved. It also acknowledges the recently approved European Media Freedom Act, which aims to protect journalists, combat political interference in editorial decisions, and increase the transparency of media ownership.

However, it is crucial to examine not only Bulgaria's current ranking but also the direction of ongoing processes, the obstacles and challenges faced, and how political will and judicial practice compare to previous periods. For example, selective disclosure of data from investigations by the prosecutor's office often alternates with complete silence over significant cases involving allegations of high-level corruption.

From May to July 2023, deputies made an unprecedented attempt to amend the Law for Access to Public Information (ZDOI) by reducing requirements on transparency of the deployment of public funding for authorities and introducing proof of legal interest for citizens to be able to access data.[3] Ironically, this initiative coincided with the transposition into national law of the European Open Data Directive, which aims to enhance public access to information. Ultimately, the attempt to amend the ZDOI failed, thanks to a strong campaign by Bulgarian and international civil society organisations. The increasingly restrictive conditions for accessing public data force many, including journalists and activists, to file administrative complaints just to obtain the information they are entitled to. If this fails, citizens or journalists can initiate a lawsuit, but the process is slow and burdensome. Often, the administration simply doesn’t respond, pushing people to take legal action, which is costly and unfair, as many cannot afford the fees. In the end, courts rule in favour of access to the information in most cases, although it should not be so difficult to access this information in the first place. Unfortunately, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) remain common.[4]

[1] CIVICUS (2023), Bulgaria : https://monitor.civicus.org/country/bulgaria/

[2] RSF (2024), Index: https://rsf.org/en/index

[3] AEJ Bulgaria (2024), Supreme courts should not allow a drastic increase in SLAPP cases: https://aej-bulgaria.org/10-07-2024/

[4] Access to information (2024): https://www.aip-bg.org/en/

Достъп до енергия и енергийна бедност

An ordinance has outlined the criteria, conditions, and procedures for determining which households are experiencing energy poverty and which count as vulnerable customers for electricity supply. But the Council of Ministers only approved this at the end of 2023.[1] The document defines “vulnerable customers” in relation to electricity supply. To establish whether a customer is vulnerable in terms of electricity supply, the authorities have introduced specific criteria based on factors such as age, state of health, and average monthly disposable income. The need for aid to facilitate independent living or pay for electricity to power life-sustaining medical devices is also considered, as is the receipt of monthly social benefits.

According to the Bulgarian Academy of Science's (BAS) report, 32% of households were classified as energy-poor in 2022, rising to 33% in 2023.[2] Lighting and heating costs account for an average of 15% of a household's disposable income in Bulgaria, compared to the EU average of 8%. Even among the highest-income households, which make up 20% to 30% of the population, energy expenses still represent about 10% of their income. BAS experts emphasize the need for an information system to support people who are energy poor.

According to Mincho Benov, director of the NGO  "Habitat" Bulgaria, there is no precise figure for the number of people affected by energy poverty in Bulgaria, but estimates range from 1.8 million to 2 million. He notes that energy poverty is directly linked to economic poverty, reflecting current income levels in the country.[3]

According to the NSG, following the adoption of the ordinance, significant efforts are required to identify energy-poor individuals in Bulgaria, as the financial criteria are not sufficient to correctly identify them and a more intersectional approach is needed, and to implement concrete measures aimed at improving their situation.

[1] Ministerial Council of the Republic of Bulgaria (2023) Decree 267 / 7.12.2023 : https://pris.government.bg/document/487c83500057870c53a6bef64b204334

[2] BNR (2024), Teodora Peneva: There should be a responsible institution and an information system should be developed for the energy poor: https://bnr.bg/horizont/post/101993922/teodora-peneva

[3] BNR (2024), Mincho Benov: There is no register, but it is expected that there will be 1.8 - 2 million in our country. energy poor: https://bnr.bg/horizont/post/101993807/mincho-benov-nama-registar-no-se-ochakva-u-nas-da-ima-18-2-mln-energiino-bedni