Following his visit to Bulgaria, Commissioner O’Flaherty, sent two letters to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Nataliya Efremova. The letters, published today, address long-term care for older persons and the housing situation of Roma communities.
Regarding long-term residential care for older persons, the Commissioner welcomes the ongoing reform and modernisation efforts but notes the need to resolve staff shortages, strengthen geriatric expertise and improve the availability of dementia care. He recommends better integrating health and social care; strengthening independent monitoring for both public and private facilities, with adequate support for the Ombudsman’s role and civil society organisations; reinforcing protection against abuse; and reforming restrictive guardianship frameworks to introduce supported decision-making arrangements.
On the housing situation of Roma, the Commissioner recognises some progress, but expresses concern over persistent discrimination, antigypsyism, inadequate living conditions in informal settlements and recurrent evictions and demolitions. He encourages the establishment of a clear framework in respect to evictions and demolitions requiring proportionality assessments and safeguards to prevent homelessness and further harm, cooperation between relevant authorities at all levels, as well as a new National Housing Strategy inclusive of informal settlements. He highlights the need to fully implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, citing the indication in favour of legislative reform in the recent Aleksieva and Others v. Bulgaria ruling.
- Read the Commissioner's letter to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria on long-term care for older persons
and the comments of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria to the Commissioner's letter on long-term car for older persons
- Read the Commissioner's letter to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria on the housing situation of Roma communities
and the comments of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria to the Commissioner's letter on the housing situation of Roma communities
