More than 56,000 people with difficulties use over 1,900 social services in Bulgaria, deputy labour and social policy minister Nadya Klisurska said. She gave the figures at the conference "20 years later: From rights on paper to independent living".

In recent years, more than 205 new social services have opened under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The plan also covered the renovation of 76 care homes for older people.

Klisurska said support must fit each person's own needs. Laws on social care have focused on this since 2019, but those needs still have to be assessed, she said.

The Maria's World foundation organised the conference. Representatives of institutions, non-government groups and business took part. The aim was to hear their views on how to develop support for people in need.

Klisurska said she expects specific recommendations for the social ministry to come out of the event.