Bulgarian civilization at risk of disappearing due to demographic crisis

By the end of the century, Bulgarian civilization may disappear. The demographic crisis is still reversible, provided we act today. Tomorrow will be late!

The participants in the discussion forum organized by the Strategic Institute for National Policies and Ideas (SINPI) on the topic “The demographic crisis – causes, factors, dynamics” united around this opinion.

According to the chairman of SINPI Kaloyan Pargov, demography is the problem of problems in Bulgaria. “The main task of all politicians and all institutions is the preservation of the Bulgarian nation. This is the task of tasks today and how to solve it,” Pargov was categorical.

“I am using the presence of the vice president of the Republic of Bulgaria to propose that a structure be created for the presidential institution, which will gather the scientific, managerial and administrative potential with a view to creating a long-term strategy that will be an intersection point of understanding for all political forces,” he said more Pargov.

“In order to be able to reap the fruits of the measures taken after 10 years, we must immediately start working”, believes the chairman of SINPI.

“The scale of the demographic crisis is not large, everything is in our hands. Very quickly indicators can begin to improve and change, as long as there is an understanding of the essence of the problem, of the dangerous trends that the problem gives rise to – the threat of the disappearance of the Bulgarian civilization from the world map”, pointed out Yuriy Aslanov. He believes that politicians should be aware that if they do not take action now, they themselves are cutting the branch they are sitting on.

Prof. Arch. Ivan Danov pointed out that the regional development of the country is an extremely important element for demography. He noted that the problem with the secondary roads of the country, which are a prerequisite for the economic activity of the population, is absolutely neglected.

Daniela Vezieva is convinced that even at the moment there is a way to return funds to the municipalities from the state budget. If a part of the state fees are returned to the municipalities, the effect would be very good, she believes.

According to her, flexible forms of dual education should be synchronized between business and education.

“We need a new Law on Investments, easing and decentralization of municipalities, direct investment in small and medium-sized businesses through programs,” said Daniela Vezieva.

Plamen Milev explained that Bulgaria is a rich country, but unfortunately many poor people live there. One reason for this is that the redistribution process is quite unfair.
According to teacher Hristo Gospodinov, all these children who will one day leave school will be the next doctors, politicians, statesmen, prime ministers, they will solve the demographic crisis and they will lead the country.

“Everything is a problem of education that must be solved now,” Gospodinov is convinced.

“There is no way with such a high rate of child poverty we want educated young people who are dedicated in their childhood and teenage years to education and learning. A large part of them dedicate this time to survival and how to change their lives” recalled former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Ivan Krastev.

He pointed out that active work is needed with a system that ensures that every child at risk, independently and at the initiative of the parents, can use appropriate support in the form of early childhood development services.

The discussion was attended by the President Georgi Parvanov (2002-2012), the chairman of NSI Prof. Atanas Atanasov and Magdalena Kostova, Prof. Andrey Zahariev and Prof. Stoyan Prodanov from the Academy of Economics in Svishtov, Prof. Georgi Burdarov from SU “Kliment Ohridski” and Assoc. Prof. Haralan Alexandrov from the NBU, the executive director of the NSORB Silvia Georgieva, Dr. Lili Elenkova, as well as the members of SINPI: Prof. Arch. Ivan Danov, Daniela Vezieva, Plamen Milev, Ivan Krastev, Hristo Gospodinov and Hristo Monev.
The moderator of the forum was Yuriy Aslanov.