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1. Structure of Decision-making

2. Main Themes

3. The National Agency for Youth

4. Policy monitoring and evaluation

Structure of Decision-making

The national youth policy is implemented by the Council of Ministers through the Minister of Youth and Sports in accordance with the national youth strategy.

The national youth strategy is prepared by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and is then submitted for approval by the Council of Ministers. Then the Council of Ministers submits the national youth strategy for adoption by the National Assembly.

The Minister of Youth and Sports coordinates the work of the central and territorial governmental structures with regard to the implementation of the youth policy and interacts with youth organisations for the realisation of the national youth policy. The minister further organises and coordinates programs and projects in the field of youth.

District governors ensure the implementation of the national youth policy within the territory of the respective district by maintaining close cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and with the youth organisations that are registered on their territory. They further formulate the priorities and specific objectives and measures for development of the regional youth policy.

A multi-sectoral approach is applied to the implementation of the national youth policy. While implementing the national youth policy, the Minister of Youth and Sports is supported by the National Advisory Council on Youth (Национален консултативен съвет за младежта). You can find more information about the National Advisory Council on Youth in section 1.5 Cross-sectoral approach with other ministries.

The Public Council on Youth Matters (Обществен съвет по въпросите за младежта) is another advisory unit to the Minister of Youth and Sports. It prepares positions, gives opinions and proposes initiatives for solving problems under the jurisdiction of the minister of youth and sports. It consists of representatives of organisations registered under the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act for the purpose of carrying out activities in public interest and aiming at the implementation of youth activities. The Public Council on Youth Matters was initiated in 2017. The latest amendments to the Youth Act formalise the role, function, composition and responsibilities of the Public Council on Youth Matters in the Youth Act.

In addition to the Public Council on Youth Matters, municipality youth councils and children’s parliaments are established. They are subsidiary and advisory bodies to the local authorities in the field of youth policy. Municipalities with population of more than 45 000 inhabitants are obliged to establish local advisory youth councils.

The Committee on children, family youth and sports at the National Assembly is a special committee consisting of eighteen members of the Parliament is responsible for the matters related to youth, family, children and sports within the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Committee is responsible for the bills that Parliament is considering in the youth sector. It discusses, debates and gives opinions on youth issues in the Parliament. The Committee also communicates and cooperates with the other parliamentary committees when deciding on draft laws and other documents in the field of youth within the competence of the National Assembly.

Main Themes

The main themes of youth policy are defined in the national youth strategy. The current National Youth Strategy (2021-2030) defines the following themes: promotion of non-formal learning; promotion of employment and support of NEETs; promotion of engagement, participation and empowerment of young people; development and establishment of youth work at national level; connectivity, tolerance and European belonging; promotion of healthy and environmental-friendly lifestyle; promotion of culture and creativity among young people.

The National Agency for Youth

There is no National Agency for Youth. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has a department dealing with youth policies. The Youth Policies Directorate of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (дирекция “Младежки политики“ в Министерство на младежта и спорта)  is responsible for the implementation of the national youth policy and youth programs and projects.

Policy monitoring and evaluation

The Ministry of Youth and Sports drafts youth report every two years. The youth report provides a summary of changes and trends in the socioeconomic position of young people during the relevant two-years’ period. The report covers at least the following topics: education, employment, health and well-being, equality and inclusion, young people from small regions, awareness and digital skills, youth organisations. 

The youth report is approved by the Council of Ministers and is then adopted by the National Assembly.