Good conditions for raising children, a good life for young people and joint work by towns with the state and business all matter for better demographics in Bulgaria. This was the message from a discussion at the Annual Meeting of Local Authorities in Albena.

Burgas council has a separate portfolio for demographic policy, said councillor Vasil Zagorchev. For now, the city is growing mainly because people move there from other places. Zagorchev said the council should continue the initiatives it has started and build on what it has achieved.

The discussion followed a panel called "Children at the centre: the municipal contribution to child well-being", chaired by Iva Doychinova. She asked the participants how they are continuing their work and what their next steps are.

In Troyan, the demographic trend has been turning around over the past three years.

"When we try to answer the question of why this is so, in most cases it is because people find a good environment for raising children," said mayor Donka Mihaylova. She believes that bringing back people with small children, and families planning to have children, can change the town's demographics for good.

Tundzha mayor Stancho Stavrev believes a municipality attracts young people if it is cosy, warm and comfortable, and if it works together with the state and business.

Maria Zlatareva of UNICEF said young people need to know that their voice is heard and that they can take part in the change they want. She has two children studying in Germany and France. She said both plan to return to Bulgaria.

Andrey Arnaudov, co-founder of the "DNK" and Bulgaria Wants You initiatives, said that where a person chooses to live, and whether to have children, is not only a matter of money. He said the social environment, culture, sport and conditions for young people to develop are also important.

Arnaudov believes smaller towns could attract more people in future, because they have advantages that are not yet well known. For that reason, good municipal practices should reach Bulgarians at home and abroad, so they can see that they can live and work outside the biggest cities.

Doychinova called on UNICEF to keep helping municipalities with education initiatives and experts. She asked public figures and private business to help successful local practices become known and grow.

At the end, the moderator praised the efforts of Troyan, Tundzha and Burgas to improve conditions for children and young people.