More than 56,000 people with difficulties use over 1,900 social services across Bulgaria, deputy labour and social policy minister Nadya Klisurska has said. She spoke at the conference "20 years later: From rights on paper to independent living", organised by the Maria's World foundation.

"In recent years, under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, we have set up more than 205 new social services," Klisurska told BTA. She added that 76 care homes for older people have also been renovated.

The deputy minister said support must match each person's needs. Laws on social care have put those needs first since 2019, she explained, but officials still have to assess what exactly each person relies on.

Institutions, non-governmental groups and business used the conference to discuss how to develop help for people in need. Klisurska said she expects specific recommendations from it for the social ministry.