BASIC INFORMATION

BulgariaBulgaria
Last updated on:
Tuesday, 18 August 2020
Year of approval of the SD strategy and updates

The National Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020 was adopted in 2012.

The Government’s Programme for the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2017-2021 was adopted in 2017.

The National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030 is expected to be adopted by the end of 2020 as the successor of the National Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020. The Vision, Goals and Priorities of the National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030 were approved by the Council of Ministers on 20 January 2020.

Following the approval of the Vision, Goals and Priorities of the National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030, the Government shall elaborate its intentions for each policy area and prepare an indicative financial framework, an ex-ante impact assessment and a mechanism to monitor and control the implementation of the strategic document.

Type of SD strategy

The National Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020 is the leading strategic and programming document detailing the objectives of the development policies of the country until 2020. The vision, objectives and priorities of NDP BG2020 are defined on the basis of a socio-economic analysis drawn up for this purpose as well as on the submissions received as а result of the public discussions of each stage of the drafting of the document. The formulated objectives of the government policies will ensure the achievement of accelerated economic growth and raising the standard of living of the Bulgarian citizens in the medium and long term.
NDP BG2020 is a document for the national decisions for growth. It is in line with the commitments of Bulgaria at European and international level, while at the same time it embodies the aspiration of the state for selection of national road to progress. The document contains no direct reference to the SDGs, but it ensures the link between the national priorities of the Republic of Bulgaria and the EU goals in the context of the Europe 2020 strategy.

The principles and policies laid down in the Government’s Programme for the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2017-2021 are in line with the 2030 Agenda, with a focus on good governance and guaranteeing the rights, security and well-being of citizens, tolerance, non-discrimination and non-disintegration.

The National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030 is a strategic framework document of the highest order in the hierarchy of the national programming documents, which determines the vision and the overall goals of development policies in all sectors of state governance, including their territorial dimensions. The document sets out three strategic goals which will be implemented by government policies, grouped into five development areas (axes) and puts forth 13 national priorities. In preparing the National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030 special attention has been paid to the 2030 United Nations (UN) Agenda for Sustainable Development “Transforming our World” and to the 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals included therein. The Agenda and the Goals are regarded as a framework for the national development policies, while the National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030 itself – as the Government's response for their implementation.

Lead ministry/institution in the SD strategy process

The Council of Ministers adopted the National Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020 and the Government’s Programme for the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2017-2021. The Development Council at the Council of Ministers established for the purposes of strategic planning in the country is engaged with the development of the National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030. It coordinates unified positions on strategic issues related to the country's sustainable development – issues in the fields of economic and social relations, health, culture and sport, education and pensions, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture and food and other issues in their interconnectedness. A Coordination Committee for Management, Monitoring, Control, and Implementation Reporting of the National Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020 is set up at the Development Council and is chaired by the Minister of Finance. The Committee provides information on the implementation of sectoral strategy papers and monitors progress in the implementation of the priorities and horizontal policies of the strategic programmes. The Coordination Committee prepared the draft National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030. The sectoral ministries, within their competence, work on detailing the strategy. A well-established procedure for inter-agency discussion of the document is followed, and stakeholder consultation meetings are held. The Development Council shall propose a draft National Development Programme BULGARIA 2030 for adoption by the Council of Ministers by 31 December 2020.

Further information about the SD strategy process

Vision

In 2030, Bulgaria will be a country of high standards of living and a competitive, low-carbon economy. The country will be developing and implementing innovations in every sector of the economy, adapting to the transforming world through its highly educated, creative, supportive and healthy society. It will be a fertile ground for ideas and a magnet for investment and human capital. The unique cultural and natural resources of the Bulgarian regions will be used responsibly and sustainably. They will be integrated with each other and with the world through high-speed road and optical links, establishing the country’s position as a crossroads of ideas and goods in Europe and beyond. Bulgarian citizens will play an active role in the future of their country, have rich opportunities for personal and professional development and live in a just and tolerant society, in which their voice is heard.

In 2020, the Council of Ministers adopted the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan until 2030 of the Republic of Bulgaria. Its main objectives are to stimulate low-carbon economic development; to provide competitive and secure energy; to reduce dependence on fuel and energy imports; to guarantee affordable energy for all consumers. The Integrated Plan sets specific objectives in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and system interconnection.