Deputy PM Atanas Zafirov: Number of Young Roma in Bulgaria Completing Secondary Education Increased Significantly

The proportion of young Roma completing secondary education has increased significantly — from 28% in 2016 to 41% today, Deputy Prime Minister, Atanas Zafirov, said during a national roundtable on “From Data to Action: Findings on the Situation of Roma in Bulgaria from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights Study” in Sofia on December 8. The event was organised by the Centre for the Study of Democracy and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

The Deputy Prime Minister also cited more data from a study conducted by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency in 2024.

"The risk of poverty among Roma has decreased from 86% in 2016 to 53% today. Roma in paid employment now constitute 62%, compared with 49% in 2016.” He stressed that successful integration and equality for Roma are matters of national interest.

At the same time, Zafirov highlighted some concerning trends:

“Only 7% of Roma who experienced discrimination reported it — one of the lowest levels in the EU. Housing conditions remain worrying: 79% of Roma live in overcrowded homes. Furthermore, 70% of Roma children attend schools that are predominantly Roma, which is critically high.”

He also pointed to government measures taken over 2024–2025, including a new official address mechanism that enabled thousands of citizens, including from vulnerable communities, to obtain personal documents. “In just one year, more than 2,400 people received identity cards,” he said.

Zafirov concluded by emphasising that “the Roma community is an integral part of our shared social and cultural fabric.”