Youth organisations to be encouraged by means of European and national programmes
Youth organisations will be encouraged by means of national, local, European and international programmes and projects. They will be eligible for funding if they are included in the National Information System for Youth, which registers and provides data for youth formations in the country, prepares a list of the nationally representative establishments and others. This is stipulated in the draft Law on Youth, which was presented yesterday at a roundtable, attended by Minister of Education Youth and Science Sergei Ignatov, Chairperson of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva, representatives of the opposition and NGOs.
At least 70% of the participants must meet the age requirement in order for a youth organisation to be recognised as such. Young people are those between 15 and 29 years of age, according to the draft Law on Youth, proposed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science (MEYS). A national organisation has to include 900 members and operate in at least 30% of the municipalities, provides the project further.
The setting up of a National Advisory Board for Youth with the minister is envisaged. It will include his deputy, one representative of the National Association of Municipalities, one representative of the Student Council and one representative from each youth organisation.
If adopted, this will be the first Law on Youth in Bulgaria, reminded participants in the discussion.
Representatives of the opposition, however, identified the law as a "conspiracy" because it was published only on the website of MEYS. According to the youth group of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the ministry tried to avoid criticism. The socialists believe that the financing of youth organisations remains unclear. "Municipalities are required to adopt plans and programs for youth policy. But how will they finance these initiatives, given the scarce municipal budgets," asked members of the left - wing youth union. According to them, the financing can not come from the budgets of the current youth programs, which were trimmed to the amount of BGN 800,000 per year.
Text and photo: www.klassa.bg