site.btaYouth and Sports Minister Kralev Takes Part in Video Conference Meeting of EU Counterparts

Sofia, November 20 (BTA) - During a meeting of EU sports
ministers, held by video conference on Monday, Bulgarian Youth
and Sports Minister Krassen Kralev said that due to the
coronavirus lockdowns, travel bans and health considerations
this year, many of the planned youth-related activities
requiring mobility failed to take place, while the number of
Bulgarian participants in such activities organized under EU
programmes fell more than three-fold compared to 2019, according
 to preliminary data.

The EU youth and sports ministers held a policy debate entitled
"Youth mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond -
Revitalising international youth exchanges and cross-border
volunteering activities".

Kralev also said that Bulgaria welcomes the European
Commission's Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) and the
inclusion of the youth sector in its scope. Kralev said that
Bulgaria has recognized the youth exchanges carried out by video
 conference as a means of implementing activities which can help
 young people broaden their knowledge and competences through
informal learning methods and youth work. At the same time,
however, the activities carried out digitally cannot fully
replace physical mobility, so that Bulgaria rather supports
hybrid events with a reduced number of participants and with
online accompanying events.

Bulgaria urged the EC to continue to use a flexible approach in
respect of the Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps
programmes.

Kralev thanked the German EU Presidency for its efforts in
finalizing the talks on these programmes between the European
Council and the European Parliament.

Bulgarian European Commissioner for Innovation, Research,
Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel also participated in
 the meeting. RI/ZH