Balgarianovinite.com A delegation of the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) has concluded a three-day visit to Bulgaria focusing on progress in reforming the child care system, child protection policies, and the implementation of the European Child Guarantee. The delegation met with national authorities and non-governmental organizations and visited social services and temporary accommodation centres for young people, the European Parliament said on Friday.
The main aim of the visit was to review Bulgaria’s child care reform, in particular the deinstitutionalization process, progress achieved so far, and remaining challenges. Meetings with experts and site visits allowed MEPs to compare policy commitments with their practical implementation.
During the visit, MEPs stressed the importance of continued EU support, stronger monitoring, and the proper use and implementation of European funds.
Delegation head Estelle Ceulemans (S&D, Belgium) said that the observed progress shows that deinstitutionalization of child care can lead to real improvements in children’s well-being, but only if it is supported in a consistent and sustainable way. Reducing child poverty must remain a clear priority at EU level, she said, which is the reason why the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament consistently call for a strengthened European Child Guarantee, backed by a dedicated EU budget of at least EUR 20 billion.
Hristo Petrov (Renew, Bulgaria), Chair of the EMPL Working Group on the European Child Guarantee, said the visit provided valuable insights into how the Child Guarantee is acting as a catalyst for improving the situation of vulnerable children in Bulgaria and where further efforts are needed. He stressed the need to place children’s well-being at the centre of EU action, strengthen monitoring, and secure adequate funding in the next EU budget.
Valerie Devaux (Renew, France) highlighted the vital work of social workers striving to improve the lives of thousands of vulnerable children in Bulgaria, including children with disabilities. She said Renew Europe remains committed to ensuring that EU instruments, particularly through an ambitious European Child Guarantee and the European Social Fund, continue to deliver lasting solutions for vulnerable children and stable support for social workers.
The MEPs’ programme included meetings with national child protection authorities, representatives of NGOs and UNICEF, visits to social service centres for children and families and for children with disabilities in Pazardzhik, and a transitional housing complex for young people in Sofia supporting refugee children and victims of trafficking aged 14 to 18, the statement said. Reducing Child Poverty Must Remain a Clear EU Priority, MEPs Say after Visit to Bulgaria 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-09 14:43:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law