Minister Natalia Efremova: Social payments are an investment, not an expense

18.05.2026 | Social policy

Minister of Social Affairs Natalia Efremova emphasized the need for effective investment in social services and the priority adoption of the 2026 budget.

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Social payments as an investment

"We will do everything possible to invest financial resources in the most effective way, which will lead to a positive change in people's lives," stated Minister of Labour and Social Policy Natalia Efremova during a meeting with the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB).

Social payments should be viewed not as an expense, but as an investment.

Minister Efremova emphasized that the adoption of the State Budget Act for 2026 remains a key priority for the ministry.

Modernization and new social services

The minister urged mayors to strictly adhere to deadlines for projects to modernize homes for the elderly and build new social structures under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The main points in the discussion were:

The MLSP is preparing a comprehensive package for the development of the sector, including long-term reforms and optimization of work processes.