11.04.2022

THE WORLD BANK HAS LOWERED ITS FORECASTS FOR BULGARIA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In a spring report entitled "War in the Region", the World Bank lowered its forecasts for Bulgaria's economic development this year as a result of the negative effects of the war in Ukraine.

The bank already expects the GDP of our country to increase in 2022 by 2.6% compared to the previous forecast in January for economic growth of 3.8 percent.

At the same time, the international financial institution forecasts better growth of 4.3% in 2023, compared to a previous estimate from the beginning of the year for economic expansion of 3.6 percent.

The long-term structural challenges facing Bulgaria include negative demographic trends combined with institutional and managerial weaknesses, the World Bank said. Institutional gaps affect the suboptimal delivery of public services, which hampers private sector expansion and undermines inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

High levels of inequality of opportunity limit access to key public services, limit people's ability to escape poverty and lead to persistently high income inequality. Poverty and inequality are exacerbated by inadequacies in the targeting, coverage and generosity of the social security system, limiting its role as a redistributive mechanism and fiscal stabilizer.

The pace of convergence to the average level of income in the EU is slower than that observed in other new EU members, with Bulgaria continuing to rank last in terms of GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in the EU, with 55% of the EU average in 2020.

Economic growth and convergence to average income levels for the EU varies significantly in different regions of Bulgaria - from only 24% of the average EU level in Silistra, to 120% in Sofia in 2019, and this trend is becoming more uneven. As a result, some parts of the country are depopulating rapidly, with the first results of the 2021 census showing the fastest population decline since the 1985 census - by 11.5 percent from 2011 to 6 , 52 million people. The significant emigration from the beginning of the transition period, led by large differences in income and the search for a better quality of life, is the main factor for the rapid loss of population in Bulgaria, according to the World Bank.

According to preliminary data for 2021, GDP growth accelerated to 4.2%, although real production is yet to recover to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. Final consumption and steady export growth were the main drivers of the recovery. The expansion of exports was preceded by an increase in imports, which led to an increase in the trade deficit and current account deficits.

However, investment continued to decline in 2021, according to the World Bank. The pandemic, coupled with an internal political crisis for most of 2021, has increased investors' reluctance to take risks, while delayed approval of the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan has put additional strain on public investment. Industry, finance and IT have been key sectoral drivers of economic growth.

Like most European countries, Bulgaria has seen a rapid acceleration of inflation since the summer of 2021, reaching 10% on an annual basis in February 2022. Imported inflation due to rising oil prices with its side effects is a key factor behind inflation. From mid-December, regulated prices of electricity, heating and water were frozen until the end of March 2022, which partially mitigated the inflation shock on households.

For its part, businesses have been receiving government subsidies for electricity costs since October 2021, which has kept many companies afloat, despite soaring energy prices. Subsidies on electricity prices are expected to be fiscally neutral, as they will be financed by the profits of the state-owned nuclear power plant, the World Bank said in its spring macroeconomic report.

Despite the growth of fiscal revenues in 2021 (a jump of 18.1% on an annual basis) against the background of stable economic growth and inflation, expenditures are growing at a similar pace (by 17.6%), mainly due to continued support for business and individuals. As a result, the fiscal deficit amounts to 2.9% of GDP.

The banking sector remained stable, with post-tax profits rising 74% to BGN 1.42 billion in 2021 and non-performing loans growing moderately by 1.4 percentage points year on year to 6% by the end of 2021.

Against the backdrop of economic recovery and continued, albeit more targeted, government support, poverty is expected to decline slightly from 6.3% in 2020 to 6.2% in 2021, using the poverty line set by The World Bank, at $ 5.50 a day.

According to the World Bank, the ongoing war in Ukraine provoked a revision of global growth forecasts, as Bulgaria's GDP growth in 2022 was revised down by 1.2 percentage points compared to the January forecast to 2.6 percent.

Risks remain downward (for even weaker growth) and are likely to lead to further downward revisions in the event of a protracted military conflict in Ukraine or new devastating Covid waves amid low levels of vaccination in Bulgaria.

In addition, delays in approving the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan and the EU Funds Operational Programs for the 2021-2027 programming period jeopardize the government's plan to significantly increase public investment in 2022, further undermining growth prospects.

In the medium term, the World Bank expects growth to be fueled by EU-funded public investment and improved sentiment among private investors about the short-term prospect of joining the eurozone.

The acceleration of domestic inflation from the end of 2021 is likely to remain in place at least in the first half of 2022, as energy and food price inflation is exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine. This will lead to further erosion of purchasing power, likely an increase in poverty and higher fiscal spending if current measures to support businesses and individuals are continued beyond the first quarter.

Overall, the draft budget for 2022 suggests that fiscal policy will deviate from the conservative stance of the last two decades. The fiscal deficit is likely to exceed the government's plan by 4.1% of GDP, as the latter is based on a rather optimistic official forecast for economic growth of 4.8%.

A government-sponsored program to accommodate displaced Ukrainian citizens will also be a burden on government spending. More than 58,000 Ukrainian citizens remained in Bulgaria as of March 29th, with about 40,000 of them housed in government-subsidized hotels.

In addition, a budget revision is planned for this summer, which is likely to further increase spending. The World Bank expects the current account balance to return to positive, although remaining below 1% of GDP, in the period 2022-2024.

It is positive that the political crisis that has dominated the Bulgarian national landscape since the beginning of 2021 has been overcome after a four-party coalition took office after the elections on November 14, 2021. There are high expectations from the new government to undertake structural reforms in a number areas, including the judiciary and corruption control, the World Bank added.

11.04.2022

WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR NEW EMPLOYEES

Twice as many companies in Bulgaria plan to hire people compared to the previous six months, according to a study by the Bulgarian Employment Confederation, which unites the leading companies in the field of HR services in the country.

A total of 1,074 companies from five regions and twelve industrial sectors participated in the survey. 6% predict a reduction in the workforce, and 33% will keep the number of staff. Thus, the net employment rate, which is obtained from the difference between employers who plan to reduce the workforce and those who forecast to increase it, is +40% - an increase of 23% compared to October 2021 - March 2022.

In Sofia, the demand for new employees will again be most active, with 78% of surveyed employers planning to increase staff. The employment rate in Plovdiv decreased by 10 percentage points and 8% of companies forecast growth in the workforce. In the regions of Burgas and Varna, the employment plans are also positive with employment rates of +5% and +6%, respectively, while the Ruse region improved by seven percentage points, reaching an employment rate of + 3% for the period April - September 2022.

"Despite the encouraging plans of employers across the country to increase staff, there is no sector that is not suffocated by the lack of suitable staff, and this phenomenon is not from yesterday. The labor market has never been so fiercely competitive, because quality employees are not only looking for adequate pay, meaningful additional benefits and flexible work models, but also a stable company culture that goes hand in hand with the priorities of employees and the whole society,” said Nadia Vasileva, chairwoman of the confederation.

To the additional question "How will the war in Ukraine affect your business in the next six months?" 42% of employers say it will have a negative impact, 19% will have a positive impact, and 39% do not think it will affect their business in any way.

"We urgently need more than 200,000 specialists for all sectors without exception, and many employers are hoping to find a solution to their staffing problems in Ukrainian immigrants, who could fill some of the vacancies. Given all the measures the government has taken so far to support refugees, it would be useful to share up-to-date information on the number of Ukrainian citizens actually employed in the last month so that employers can assess whether they are part of the solution to the problem of the huge shortage of staff."

In addition, employers from all twelve industries included in the survey share positive prospects for hiring new employees.

The most optimistic plans for the next six months are the employers from the sectors "Information Technology", "Production" and "Outsourcing" (respectively +49%, +34% and +31%), followed by the "Public and Social" sector and "Finance" , insurance, real estate and business services ”(+7%) and“ Wholesale and retail trade ”and“ Transport, warehouses and communications ”(+5%). The sectors "Mining and quarrying", "Hotels and restaurants" and "Agriculture, forestry and fisheries", whose results were negative for the past six months, will also offer job opportunities with employment rates of +2%, +4% and +2%.

11.04.2022

OPIC WILL SUPPORT ANOTHER 815 SMALL COMPANIES WITH BGN 41 MILLION

Another nearly BGN 41 million will be paid to 815 small businesses to deal with the consequences of the Covid crisis. The grant is under the measure for support of companies with a turnover of over BGN 500,000, implemented by the Operational Program "Innovation and Competitiveness" (OPIC) at the Ministry of Innovation and Growth. Each of the companies will receive BGN 50,000 to reimburse the operating costs for salaries, materials and consumables made during the pandemic, the ministry said.

636 of these companies have already been contracted and are expected to receive their money within a maximum of three months. For the remaining 179 approved small enterprises, the negotiated procedure has started. They will receive approximately BGN 9 million, which were provided at the end of last month. Thus, the total number of companies supported under this measure of the operational program will become almost 4,400. The allocated funds will exceed the amount of BGN 219 million.

OPIC already has profiles on social networks

The Operational Program "Innovation and Competitiveness" (OPIC) at the Ministry of Innovation and Growth already has social media accounts on Facebook and YouTube. They will publish information about the opportunities for modernization of enterprises, to improve energy efficiency, to finance innovations in the work and production process and others.

On the Facebook page, business representatives will be able to find current news about current and future measures and programs. Videos and reports presenting the results of the support for the companies in the country will be uploaded on the YouTube platform.

11.04.2022

WHICH PROFESSIONS WILL DISAPPEAR

Due to the mass penetration of artificial intelligence in the future, professions in which there is no creative element will disappear. A profession in which it has creativity cannot disappear, said for BTA Acad. Chavdar Rumenin - a specialist in sensory, robotics and artificial intelligence from the Institute of Robotics at BAS, of which he is director from 1999 to 2018. Now Acad. Rumenin is the director of the National Center for Competence "Quantum Communication, Intelligent Security Systems and Risk Management" - QUASAR.

In the past, there were drivers, saddlers, shoemakers and other professions, many of which no longer exist. These professions have become rare crafts, said Acad. Rumenin.

He predicts that due to the development of artificial intelligence, the profession of travel agent is expected to disappear, because in the future people will make their own reservations for their travels and vacations.

The professions of cashiers in supermarkets as well as bank cashiers will also disappear, and there will be no printing workers in the future. There is a forecast that in the future there will be no sports judges in tennis, because this sport uses the so-called system of artificial intelligence, which is called the hawk's eye. It shows where the ball fell - inside or outside the area of ​​the game, explained Acad. Chavdar Rumenin.

He noted that the profession of receptionists in hotels will also be able to automate, but clarified that this process of disappearance of certain professions will not be so fast, but will be associated with the introduction of technology.

With the introduction of certain technologies and elements of artificial intelligence, certain professions will gradually disappear and other professions will be automated.

The creative professions of journalists, doctors, teachers and scientists will remain in the future. "I personally believe that in the future there will be journalists, doctors, teachers, scientists, because humanity will not be able to function without these specialists. When there were two identical hours in one subject - the teacher is always creative and knowing his students. he knows how to present the lesson to them. There is no way that human creativity can be replaced by machines," the scientist commented.

But let's not scare people, it will be many years before these professions we are talking about disappear. During this time, people will be able to orient themselves and choose other professions in which to work, said Acad. Rumenin.

There will be new professions in the future due to the widespread use of artificial intelligence in various areas of life. I expect that the profession of specialists in the transformation of human resources will appear, suggested Acad. Rumenin. He also gave an example of the application of this new profession. If in the future a company needs to be laid off, the specialists in human resources transformation, with the capabilities of artificial intelligence, will be able to select the best people who will continue to work, explained Acad. Chavdar Rumenin.

According to him, another new profession that would appear in the future is the specialists in digital transformation. In the future, people will need to be able to move from one profession to another, and large database specialists will be needed. Product designers and organizers of the process of creating new productions will also be needed.

The work of IT consultants will now be associated with great interest in digital technologies. In the future, there will be health care assistants who will analyze data from sensors and artificial intelligence structures related to human health, the scientist predicts.

08.04.2022

WE WILL REFORM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR COOPERATION ON ETHNIC AND INTEGRATION ISSUES, SAID KALINA KONSTANTINOVA

We will reform the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues. This was stated to journalists in the Council of Ministers by Deputy Prime Minister for Effective Governance Kalina Konstantinova.

As chair of the council, she said there was a need to create a democratic mechanism for electing its member organizations.

"The National Council is not working effectively enough. There are many people who are disappointed and have stopped coming to it and actively participating," she said. Kalina Konstantinova explained that the body will be similar to the Civil Society Council, which she says is already working successfully.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that she had already met with the Roma community and the non-governmental sector on the long-term 10-year strategy for Roma inclusion and the action plan to be followed over the next year and a half. "Our focus there is on the earliest childhood and the care of mothers and pregnant women in the health sector. One of the bigger reforms we plan for next year is the one for ID cards. This is the key. In order to be able to have any kind of inclusion, we must first have personal documents and they can unlock access to all tools and mechanisms for inclusion," said Kalina Konstantinova.

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister held a meeting with representatives of the non-governmental sector on the occasion of the International Roma Day - April 8, at which she got acquainted with the problems of the Roma community in our country. The meeting was also attended by MPs from various groups, who also expressed political will to work in this direction.

17-year-old Virginia Atanasova from Shumen addressed the audience. On this day, the Roma say "no" to discrimination and "no" to war. We must accept ourselves as we are, be tolerant and empathetic. Let's be united, she urged.

During the discussion, civil society organizations presented their successfully implemented practices over the past year at regional and national level. The event was attended by representatives of the World Bank for Bulgaria, UNICEF for Bulgaria and other institutions.

08.04.2022

ON THE INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY, A PHOTO EXHIBITION "OPENED THE DOOR" TO THEIR WORLD

The photo exhibition of the participants in the information campaign "Let's open the door", organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Employment Agency, was opened in the National Assembly during the celebration of the International Roma Day - April 8. The event was attended by Parliament Speaker Nikola Minchev, Minister of Labor and Social Policy Georgi Gyokov and the Executive Director of the Employment Agency Smilen Valov.

The exhibition tells the stories of Roma who started work on employment promotion programs funded by the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" and the National Action Plan for Employment. It promotes the work and role of Roma, health, education and youth mediators in the economic activation of people from the Roma community. Some of the boards tell about crafts practiced by the Roma, reveal the beauty of their customs, traditions and holidays and reveal the inner world of their understandings and dreams.

"I wish all participants representatives of the Roma community health and success. The Ministry of Labor and the Employment Agency will continue to work as a priority to increase their preparation for the labor market and economic activity, because professional realization is the best way to social inclusion and integration of everyone," said Minister Gyokov.

Three of the authors of the photographs were awarded prizes during the event. Samuil Atanasov, who dreams of being a software engineer, received a voucher for a programming course. Fani Hristova, who wants to study Bulgarian philology, was awarded a voucher for an English language course. Taner Andreev received a voucher for professional photographic equipment.

The exhibition is part of the information campaign "Let's open the door" aimed at economic activation of the Roma. For this purpose, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Employment Agency organized trainings in digital photography for community representatives in Blagoevgrad, Stara Zagora and Yambol, which included participants from other nearby settlements. Their best photos are included in the exhibition panel.

08.04.2022

A NEW APPLICATION PROCEDURE UNDER MEASURE 60/40 HAS STARTED

As of today, the Employment Agency starts a new application procedure under measure 60/40.

It may include employers seeking support to maintain the employment of their staff between March and June 2022.

The terms and conditions for receiving support in the period March - June 2022 are similar to those applied for the previous two months of January and February.

The measure continues to support the maintenance of employment in enterprises engaged in economic activity in the sectors specified in the Council of Ministers Decree № 151/2020, whose average monthly sales revenues in 2020 have decreased compared to 2019.

The regulated support at this stage also amounts to 60% of the income and social security contributions of each employee in enterprises, whose sales revenues in the month for which the support is provided have decreased by not less than 40% compared to the average monthly revenues for the whole of 2019

For employees in enterprises, whose sales revenues during the month decreased by at least 30 percent compared to the average monthly income for 2019, will continue to be paid funds in the amount of 50%. For those established after January 1, 2020, the decline in revenue for the month for which they apply will be determined relative to the average monthly revenue for 2020.

The amount of funds provided for each employee will continue to be determined on the basis of his insurance income for October 2021.

The funds under the current design of the measure will be paid monthly, as the deadlines for acceptance of documents are as follows:

- for the month of March 2022 - until 17.00 on 29.04.2022 - for documents submitted in person at the Labor Office Directorate and until 30.04.2022 - for documents sent electronically through the Security System electronic service or licensed postal operator;

- for the month of April 2022 - until 31.05.2022;

- for the month of May and June 2022 - until June 10, 2022;

- submission of reporting documents for the month of June 2022 - by July 29, 2022.

For convenience and in view of the set deadline, employers who meet the conditions of the Council of Ministers Decree № 151/2020, as amended with CMD № 40/31.03.2022, and wishing to receive support for the months of May and June 2022, may apply by submitting only one application for the two months, using the approved forms and sample documents.

08.04.2022

DISCOVEREU - TRAVEL BY TRAIN IN EUROPE

DiscoverEU - the EC's work to enable 18-year-olds to explore Europe mainly by train, opens its first round of applications in 2022. By 21 April, young people living in Erasmus + countries will be able to apply for one of the 35,000 free travel cards.

This year marks DiscoverEU's entry into the Erasmus + program. With this change and through the extra funding for the European Year of Youth (2022), 70,000 travel cards will be provided in 2022: 35,000 within the announced application cycle and another 35,000 in the application cycle, scheduled for October. Integration into Erasmus+ also gives candidates from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey who will be able to join the action for the first time.

Applicants who have successfully completed the selection quiz born between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2004 will be able to travel in Europe for up to 30 days during the travel period between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. Those who turn 18 in the second half of the year will be able to apply in October.

In addition, recipients of the travel card will now receive a discount card from DiscoverEU. This new feature will give access to over 40,000 discount opportunities in public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sports and other services available in all eligible countries.

To increase the learning dimension of the DiscoverEU experience, Erasmus + National Agencies will facilitate information meetings and meetings to prepare young travelers for their journey and to establish peer learning. Through these meetings, DiscoverEU aims to promote, inter alia, discussions on sustainability, culture and European identity. Particular attention is paid to inclusion. Participants with disabilities or health problems may be accompanied during their trip. In addition to travel expenses, additional individual assistance is also provided.

The EC promotes sustainable rail travel. Exceptions are made for those who have difficulty reaching continental Europe to begin their journey by train. Therefore, specific measures are available to young people from the outermost regions, overseas countries and territories, remote areas and islands.

Context

The EC launched the (DiscoverEU) initiative in June 2018 following a preparatory action by the European Parliament. It was officially integrated into the new Erasmus + program for the period 2021-2027.

Since 2018, more than 860,000 applicants have applied for 130,000 available travel tickets: according to a previous travel survey, 66% of applicants said they were traveling for the first time by train outside their country of residence. For many, it was also the first time they traveled without their parents or accompanying adults, with most saying the experience allowed them to become more independent.

Experience within DiscoverEU has allowed them to better understand other cultures and European history. Their foreign language skills also improved during the trip. Two-thirds of participants said they could not cover the cost of the travel card without DiscoverEU assistance. Participants are invited to become DiscoverEU ambassadors in order to promote the initiative. They are also encouraged to connect with other travelers to the official DiscoverEU online group to share experiences and exchange advice, especially on cultural specifics and ways to travel sustainably with digital technology.

To apply, eligible applicants must take part in a quiz on common issues of the European Union and other EU initiatives aimed at young people. With an additional question, candidates are invited to know how many people born on Tuesday will apply in this round. The closer the assumption is to the correct answer, the more points the candidate receives. This will allow the Commission to rank the candidates. The Commission will propose travel cards to the candidates according to their ranking and until the available tickets are exhausted.

08.04.2022

THE PERIOD OF DISABILITY PENSIONS EXTENDED DUE TO THE EMERGENCY EXPIRES AT THE END OF JUNE

Disability pensions for which the period of disability expired in the period from March 13, 2020 to March 31, 2022 inclusive, will continue to be paid until the end of June this year, according to the National Social Security Institute (NSSI).

The condition for this is that the NSSI has not received other expert decisions of the TEMC/NEMC with new circumstances after re-certification of the persons receiving these pensions.

The extended repayment period was set out in special legislation related to the introduction of the emergency epidemic situation in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. According to it, the expired disability pensions of the TEMC/NEMC decision had to continue to be paid during the epidemic and three months after its repeal. The elimination of the emergency epidemic situation in our country in early April determined the final date of operation of this regulation to be June 30, 2022. It affects 24,050 retirees.

After this date, extended disability pensions will continue to be paid only in the presence of a new expert decision of the medical examination bodies, which determines a new term of disability and a percentage of permanently reduced working capacity/type and degree of disability, which entitles of the respective type of invalidity pension.

Disability pensions of persons for whom the period of disability is determined until the date following the abolition of the epidemic situation (April 1, 2022) and thereafter, will be paid until the specified period of disability in the expert decision of the TEMC/NEMC. The payment of disability pensions to these persons will be continued after the NSSI receives a new expert decision from the medical expertise body, which sets a new term of disability and a percentage of permanently reduced working capacity/type and degree of disability, which entitles to a disability pension.

08.04.2022

43% OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY WOULD START THEIR OWN BUSINESS IF THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES

43% of young people in Bulgaria would start their own business, 35% would invest in their own home, and nearly a third (31%) are willing to take the road if they do not have any limiting factors at the moment. This is shown by the online survey Generation nova of Ipsos commissioned by Huawei Consumer Business Group Bulgaria. It was held between March 23 and 28 this year among 300 young people aged 16 to 25.

According to him, the main motivator at work for 43% of young people in this age group is high pay. This applies to 27% of people between the ages of 16 and 19 and to more than half of those aged 20-25.

For almost a third, the key factor is a good work-life balance, and 30 percent are looking for good working conditions. Given the pandemic trends, flexible working hours and the ability to work from home are important for 28% of those surveyed. Young people are looking for more freedom in this regard, and as many as 23% are adamant that the motivator for them is the non-stressful atmosphere of work. The latter is more true for those living in large cities with a population of over 100,000. Only 7 percent are looking for an employer who supports causes with a positive impact on the community and the environment, and in general the survey shows that at this stage young people in Bulgaria are not so excited about causes.

The role of money

When asked what money is for them, 44% say it is a way to protect the family's future. This answer prevails among girls. 41% believe that money allows a person to enjoy the good things in life, and 37% see them as a fair reward for their work.

Despite the demand for higher wages, wealth is not among the main priorities of young people in the long run. A quarter of the respondents say that the most important thing for them is family happiness. This response is more common in women (31%) than in men (19%). Amid growing uncertainty over the war in Ukraine, with Covid-19 making life more expensive due to accelerating inflation and the energy crisis, 22% of those surveyed said security and quiet living were top priorities. Here, those in the age group of 20 to 25 years predominate. 15 percent have chosen career development, which is the result of personal satisfaction, and only 7% consider wealth to be the most important.

Only 6 percent of respondents mentioned maintaining friendships as the most important, but in terms of their preferences, they hold face-to-face communication (57%), and 12% feel more comfortable in online communication. 31% think that communication in both ways is the most adequate for them.

Youth and technology

According to the study, young people spend an average of 3.7 hours a day on social networks. 36% indicated that they stay on the platforms for 3 to 4 hours, and 21% for 5 to 6 hours. 6 percent are those who spend more than 8 hours on social networks, while 1% are adamant that they do not use social networks.

60% believe that the use of technology helps them take care of themselves, and 17% are of the opposite opinion. 23% cannot judge. For 62% of respondents, technology helps them stay in shape or play sports. To this end, they use mobile applications to support diet or exercise, and 63% say that modern technology makes life easier and easier to lead a healthy lifestyle.

However, young people also see limitations stemming from the technologies they use. For 52% of them, technology can destroy personal freedom. However, 48% believe that technology will make their lives easier in the future.

Inspiration and a look into the future

Expectations for the future of young people are not so optimistic. As many as 55% of respondents say that the world is getting worse, and girls are more inclined to think in this direction. 26 percent believe that the world has moved in a better direction, and the rest can not judge.

The main things that inspire young people in Bulgaria are nature, music, family, art, sports, hobbies, love, books, movies, travel, but there are answers such as money, god, politics and faith.

For 48% of the participants in the study, family is the most important. It has a significant advantage over love (13%) and pleasures in life/happiness (8%). 5% of the respondents said that freedom and independence, financial well-being, friends and personal development, prestige are the most important for them. The connection with nature remains in the background by only 1%, as is the result of education, art and belonging to a community/cause.

The study also shows that young people in the capital are more adaptable to changes in the world and are more likely to take into account the obligations before the pleasures. At the same time, they strive to develop their personal qualities related to self-confidence, public expression and others. For them, money is more of an opportunity to enjoy the good things in life. Young people living in Sofia are reluctant to judge people by the brands they wear and own. For them, travel would be what they would do if they had no limits in front of them.

Over 50% of the young people in our country accept and respect mainly the Bulgarian traditions and values. Against the background of all the uncertainty of the last two years, less than half are willing to take risks. Women are the ones who tend to take on more challenges, while men value security more.

Although the topic of climate change is present in the public space in the world as one of the major problems facing humanity, young people in Bulgaria are not yet ripe for this idea. According to them, there are more important issues that need to be resolved. In the current context, belonging to common causes is not important for 16-25 year olds.