Balgarianovinite.com Rayna Mandzhukova, Executive Director of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, said the agency hopes to launch by the end of the year a portal providing practical information to Bulgarians abroad who are considering returning to Bulgaria. She was speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad on Thursday.
The portal is being developed under the I Choose Bulgaria project and will bring together information on documents, enrolling children in schools and kindergartens, the status of foreign spouses, recognition of employment records, health insurance and medical documents.
“This has long been my dream as a Bulgarian living abroad – a portal where anyone who has decided to return or is considering returning can find answers to all the questions they may have,” Mandzhukova said.
The portal’s basic structure is ready. A survey of more than 700 people found that 19% plan to settle in Bulgaria, while 37% are seriously considering doing so. Participants submitted 430 questions, which will be answered with the assistance of the relevant institutions.
The agency plans to have enough information in the portal by the end of October for testing by a focus group, with free public access targeted by the end of the year. It is scheduled to be publicly launched in mid-January, subject to successful technical testing.
Mandzhukova said the agency maintains active contacts with more than 1,000 Bulgarian organizations in 52 countries, including schools, community associations, folklore groups, sports and youth organizations, charities and Bulgarian-language media.
Only six employees currently handle the agency’s relations and communications with Bulgarians abroad and its related initiatives, while three others work on certification of Bulgarian origin.
The agency receives between 14,000 and 15,000 enquiries each year concerning the certification of Bulgarian origin. Mandzhukova stressed that this figure does not represent the number of certificates issued, but rather the number of enquiries submitted to the agency on various issues and unresolved cases.
She said Bulgarian legislation does not provide consistent definitions or criteria for “Bulgarian origin”, “Bulgarian nationality” and what constitutes being Bulgarian. As a result, institutions and courts may reach different conclusions in individual cases.
Asked whether there are uniform legal criteria governing the issuance of certificates of Bulgarian origin, Mandzhukova gave a straightforward answer: “There are none.”
Mandzhukova also called for a state programme to support Bulgarian cultural organizations abroad, saying folklore groups in particular play an important role in bringing communities together and promoting Bulgaria abroad. She proposed increasing funding by 20% for staff remuneration and by 50% for operational activities. The agency’s annual operating budget is about EUR 255,000.
Upcoming initiatives include a meeting of young Bulgarians in Rome on December 5 to discuss establishing an association. The aim is to connect student and youth groups with existing Bulgarian schools and organizations, helping ensure continuity as generations change.
On October 14, previous recipients of the Bulgarian Woman of the Year Award will discuss establishing a club and adopting a common annual cause. The ceremony to honour this year’s recipient is scheduled for October 15.
Agency for Bulgarians Abroad Plans to Launch Information Portal for Returnees by Year-End 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-04 05:47:00
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