site.btaPresident Radev Confers with Eurochild Chair Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev met with Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Chair of the child rights organization Eurochild and President of Malta (2014-2019), the head of State’s press secretariat said on Wednesday. Coleiro Preca is visiting Bulgaria to participate in a working meeting focused on expanding the impact of the European Child Guarantee in the country. Also attending the meeting was Georgi Bogdanov, Executive Director of the National Network for Children in Bulgaria.

The high level of child poverty requires an adequate institutional response and genuine social integration, President Radev emphasized. "The well-being of Bulgarian children must be a top national priority for politicians, civil organizations, and society as a whole," he said.

The discussion focused on Bulgaria’s plan to reduce child poverty and social exclusion under the European Child Guarantee. This EU financial instrument aims to ensure access for every child at risk of poverty or social exclusion to key services such as early childhood education and care, healthcare, nutritious meals, housing, among others.

"The high percentage of children at risk of poverty in Bulgaria demands an effective institutional response and genuine social integration", Radev reiterated, adding that while significant resources are allocated to tackling child poverty and social exclusion, the key question is how to use them most efficiently.

During the meeting, the lack of education and the social environment’s influence on children’s personal development were highlighted as key factors contributing to poverty and incomplete social integration. Radev further said that quality education provides children with better job opportunities, higher incomes, and an improved quality of life in the future.