site.btaUN Population Fund, Bulgaria to Cooperate for Turning Country in Key Regional Leader in Active Social Policies

UN Population Fund, Bulgaria to Cooperate for Turning Country in Key Regional Leader in Active Social Policies

Sofia, May 27 (BTA) - Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivailo
Kalfin Wednesday conferred with United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) Deputy Executive Director Kate Gilmore, who is paying a
visit to Bulgaria. The two expressed readiness for new active
cooperation and the transformation of Bulgaria into a key
regional leader in the introduction of active social policies,
the Labour Ministry said in a press release.

Gilmore underscored the good results of the cooperation between
the Labour Ministry and the UNFPA that already give Bulgaria the
image of a leading country and could turn it into an example
for the other states in the region, which could draw experience
and knowledge.

Kalfin acquainted the guest with the actions taken for the
update of the existing National Demographic Strategy, which was
elaborated with the use of UNFPA data. Gilmore welcomed the
Labour Minister's intention to update and enrich the Strategy
and to move it to the National Assembly for adoption.

Kalfin said that the demographic policy is horizontal and the
successful taking of urgent steps towards the management of the
extremely grave situation in Bulgaria requires the efforts of
all institutions and parties. In his words, the updated National
Demographic Strategy should be subjected to Parliament's vote
so that all MPs and parties can unite around the idea that the
demographic policy should start giving actual results.

The Labour Ministry is one of the most long-term partners of the
UNFPA in Bulgaria. The two institutions have been cooperating
since 2004 in the elaboration and implementation of the National
Demographic Strategy (2006-2020), the press release reads.