“To be able to preserve, develop and spread the Bulgarian language, which is in danger of being lost within the Bulgarian communities in other countries we have to extend the network of schools abroad,”said Vice-President Iliana Yotova.

There are 432 Bulgarian schools in 40 countries, with an attendance of 30,000 children. They need a national fund to assist them in their work because the current model of state and private funding has run out of steam, Vice-President Yotova said.

The team of the Bulgarian Vice-President has drafted a concept for setting up a Bulgarian cultural institute to assist in the spread of the Bulgarian language diplomatically, and in the promotion of contacts with Bulgarian communities abroad.  

“We need a shared vision of the role of Bulgaria in EU policies that has the support of all parties,” Iliana Yotova said at a press conference to mark two years since her inauguration. The Bulgarian Vice-President added that economy and demographics are issues that call for a national consensus and are not subject to any political terms of office.