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1. How Youth policy is funded

2. What is funded?

3. Financial accountability

4. Use of EU Funds

How youth policy is funded

The coordination of youth policy funding is primarily ensured by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which manages national youth programmes and monitors their implementation. At the same time, other ministries and agencies contribute funding to youth-related initiatives through sectoral programmes, particularly in the fields of education, employment and social inclusion. EU funding instruments (e.g. ESF+ and Erasmus+) also play an important complementary role.

Overall, the funding framework reflects a programme-based and multi-sectoral approach, combining dedicated youth policy resources with broader public investments targeting young people.

The following youth-related activities funding mechanisms exist: 

• National Youth Programme (2026-2030), 

• National Programme for Prevention and Awareness (2026-2030)

They are implemented through annual project calls managed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Additional support for youth policy measures has been provided through targeted government decisions, and namely, financial allocations to municipal youth centres (EUR 250 000 per municipality in 2024 and 2025), aimed at strengthening local youth services and outreach.

Since the beginning of 2026, Programme for Funding of Youth Centres in the Republic of Bulgaria (2026-2028) was introduced to ensure the sustainable operation of youth centres and expand access to youth work services for young people aged 15-29. For 2026, the financial resource allocated under this programme is approximately EUR 2 400 000. The programme aims to ensure long-term sustainability of youth centres and equal access to youth services across different regions of the country.

Public spending on youth-related activities has shown an increasing trend in recent years. The overall budget of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for 2026 increased significantly compared to 2025 and 2024, reflecting policy efforts to strengthen support for youth initiatives, grassroots sport and youth participation.

EU funds also play major role in the financing youth policy initiatives in Bulgaria. Youth-related measures are supported mainly through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under cohesion policy programmes, as well as through Erasmus+ and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

What is funded 

Public funding for youth policy in Bulgaria is channelled mainly through national programmes implemented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Even though there is no single consolidated youth budget line, funding is allocated to clearly defined policy priorities related to youth participation, well-being, skills development and youth work infrastructure.

The National Youth Programme (2026-2030) represents one of the main financial instruments for implementing the objectives of the National Youth Strategy. The programme supports a wide range of youth-related activities implemented by youth organisations, public institutions and other stakeholders. Its annual budget amounts to approximately EUR 664 900 per year.

Funding priorities include:

• promotion of mental health and well-being through awareness campaigns, prevention initiatives and peer-support activities

• strengthening social inclusion and equal opportunities, including targeted measures for vulnerable youth and young people from rural areas

• development of green skills, sustainable communities and environmental engagement

• improvement of digital competences, media literacy and innovation capacity

• support for youth entrepreneurship, social innovation and employability skills

• encouragement of volunteering and solidarity initiatives

• promotion of civic participation and democratic engagement, including youth councils and participation mechanisms

• strengthening youth work capacity and organisational development in the youth sector

• implementation of the initiative “National Youth Capital”, which supports municipalities in developing local youth policies

• funding of research and evidence-based youth policy development.

• Funding of preventive youth policies

As part of the National Youth Porgram (2026-2030), the “National Youth Capital” initiative was designed. It aims to encourage municipalities to develop sustainable local youth policies and to create real opportunities for young people to participate in public life and decision-making processes. Each year, a city is selected to implement a comprehensive programme of youth activities with local, national, and international dimensions. The initiative promotes innovative approaches to youth work, partnerships between institutions, organisations, and communities, as well as the exchange of good practices. The expected outcomes include a stronger youth sector, more active civic participation among young people, and the sustainable development of local communities. The funds for the initiative are in the amount of EUR 200 000 per year (out of the total annual budget of the program).

Preventive youth policy measures are funded through the National Programme for Prevention and Awareness (2026-2030). The programme aims to reduce risk behaviours and promote healthy lifestyles among young people aged 15-29.

Financial support is directed towards:

• information and communication campaigns addressing gambling addiction risks and responsible behaviour

• initiatives using sport and physical activity as tools for preventing aggression among adolescents

• preventive actions targeting the use of psychoactive substances, including educational campaigns and non-formal learning activities

• programmes promoting healthy lifestyles, nutrition awareness and sexual and reproductive health education

• development of digital preventive content and outreach activities.

The expected results include increased awareness and more responsible behaviour among young people, reduced aggression and addiction, greater participation in sports and preventive activities, and improved physical and mental well-being.

The budget of the programme depends on the allocations paid by the gambling game organisers for socially responsible behaviour in accordance with article 10a of the Gambling Act (Закон за хазарта) and is determined on annual basis. The provisional budget for 2026 is about EUR 2 173 000, however it is yet provisional because there is no national budget act adopted yet.

Another important funding priority concerns the development and sustainability of youth work infrastructure. The Programme for Funding of Youth Centres (2026-2028) supports the functioning of youth centres across the country, including those established through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the EEA Financial Mechanism.

Funded activities focus on:

• provision of non-formal education programmes aimed at developing soft skills and key competences

• promotion of active citizenship, participation in decision-making and youth initiatives

• measures for social inclusion and outreach to disadvantaged youth

• professional development and employment of youth workers and educational mediators

• strengthening youth centres as local hubs for youth participation, dialogue and community engagement.

Additional support for youth policy measures has been provided through targeted government decisions, and namely, financial allocations to municipal youth centres (EUR 250 000 per municipality in 2024 and 2025), aimed at strengthening local youth services and outreach.

Since the beginning of 2026, the Programme for Financing Youth Centres in the Republic of Bulgaria (2026-2028) was introduced to ensure the sustainable operation of youth centres and expand access to youth work services for young people aged 15-29. For 2026, the financial resource allocated under this programme is approximately EUR 2 400 000.

Public spending on youth-related activities has shown an increasing trend in recent years. The overall budget of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for 2026 increased significantly compared to 2025 and 2024, reflecting policy efforts to strengthen support for youth initiatives, grassroots sport and youth participation.

Financial accountability

Recipients of public funding for youth policy in Bulgaria, including youth organisations, NGOs, municipalities and youth work providers, are subject to financial accountability requirements defined in national legislation and programme-specific rules.

The use of public funds is supervised primarily by:

• the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which manages national youth programmes and monitors compliance with funding contracts;

• the Public Financial Inspection Agency (under the Ministry of Finance), which carries out financial inspections and checks for irregularities in the management of public resources;

• the National Audit Office, which conducts independent external audits of public spending, including programme-based funding;

• managing bodies of EU-funded programmes (e.g. ESF+, Erasmus+), which supervise the financial implementation of projects financed from European funds.

In addition, municipal administrations exercise control over locally implemented youth projects financed through state transfers or municipal budgets.

Financial accountability procedures typically include:

• submission of interim and final financial reports, accompanied by supporting accounting documents;

• narrative activity reports demonstrating the implementation of planned measures and achievement of indicators;

• on-site monitoring visits and administrative checks by programme authorities;

• financial inspections and audits carried out by national control bodies;

• application of public procurement and state aid rules where relevant.

Funding contracts under the national youth programmes define eligible costs, reporting deadlines and sanctions in cases of irregularities, including recovery of funds.

Financial accountability mechanisms are linked to broader monitoring and evaluation processes. Data from financial reports and audit findings are used by ministries and programme authorities to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of youth policy interventions. Evaluation results may influence future funding decisions, programme design and eligibility criteria.

For EU-funded youth initiatives, accountability requirements are integrated into performance monitoring frameworks, including output and result indicators. This contributes to evidence-based policy development and strengthens transparency in the use of public funds for youth policy.

Use of EU funds

EU funds play a major role in financing youth policy initiatives in Bulgaria. Youth-related measures are supported mainly through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under cohesion policy programmes, as well as through Erasmus+ and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Main EU funding instruments and initiatives

Under the Programme “Human Resources Development” 2021-2027 (ESF+), significant funding is allocated to measures targeting youth employment, social inclusion and access to education. Key youth-related initiatives include:

• implementation of the Youth Guarantee and activation of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs);

• training and employment support programmes for young jobseekers;

• projects supporting educational inclusion, prevention of early school leaving and development of key competences;

• outreach activities and integrated services for vulnerable young people.

The programme has total budget of approximately EUR 1.9 billion, with substantial share targeting young people and disadvantaged groups. (Programme “Human Resources Development” 2021-2027, Managing Authority – Ministry of Labour and Social Policy) (last visited 31 March 2026).

Additional youth-related investments are implemented through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, including reforms and projects aimed at modernising education infrastructure, digital skills development and expanding youth centres.

Under the Programme “Education” 2021-2027 (ESF+ and ERDF), funding supports measures for improving access to quality education, reducing dropout and strengthening vocational education and training. The programme budget amounts to approximately EUR 886 million. (Programme “Education” 2021-2027 – Program Education Executive Agency to the Ministry of Education and Science) (last visited 31 March 2026).

Erasmus+ Youth and youth work development

The Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027) provides funding for youth exchanges, youth participation activities, training of youth workers and strategic partnerships. In Bulgaria, Erasmus+ contributes to the development of non-formal learning opportunities and quality youth work practices.

According to the national agency data, several thousand young people and youth workers participate annually in Erasmus+ mobility and cooperation projects.

Evaluations of EU-funded youth initiatives are carried out through programme monitoring systems, independent evaluations commissioned by managing authorities and reporting to the European Commission.

Evaluation findings indicate:

• improved access of young people to employment and training opportunities under the Youth Guarantee;

• positive effects of integrated support services on social inclusion of disadvantaged youth;

• continuing challenges related to regional disparities and sustainability of project-based interventions.

Overall, EU funds remain a key driver of youth policy development in Bulgaria, complementing national programme funding and enabling large-scale interventions targeting youth inclusion and employability.