Parliamentary cooperation and exchange of expertise in the field of social policy were the main topics discussed between the National Assembly Vice-President and Chairman of the friendship group Bulgaria –Sweden, Ivan Ivanov, and Mr. Stefan Nelson – lawmaker from Sweden. Mr. Nelson is on a visit to Bulgaria and had on 25th June 2015 meeting at the parliament with members of the friendship group Bulgaria-Sweden and the Labor, Social and Demographic Policy Committee.

Setting up a friendship group Bulgaria-Sweden shows the importance we pay to the development of the dialogue with the Rigsdag (Parliament) of Sweden, noted Vice-President Ivan Ivanov.   We would be glad if such group is established in the Swedish Rigsdag also, one that will contribute to the stronger ties between the two legislatures.

Ivan Ivanov stressed that the global economic crisis, the changing demographic trends of the population and the intensive migration from neighboring regions of conflict require the rethinking and readjusting of the social models. These include the insurance and retirement systems and the active participation of the state in the labor market. He further said the problem exists in most of the EU countries. Bulgaria, he continued, is strongly affected and the executive and legislative powers are working to find solutions to the problems.
 
Mr. Nelson said he would work on establishing a friendship group with Bulgaria in the Swedish parliament. He said that during his visit to Bulgaria he had gathered information on the efforts made by Bulgaria in the integration of different minority groups and that Sweden could share its experience in this field.

National Assembly Vice –President, Ivan Ivanov, noted deepening of the contacts between the two parliaments would help knowing the good practices of Sweden in the integration of different social groups and to start different legislative initiatives towards development of the labor market.

The Labor, Social and Demographic Policy Committee Chairman, Mr. Hassan Ademov, informed the guest about the measures taken and the efforts of the government to improve the standards of living of Bulgarians and to contain marginal groups of the population to become illegal immigrants in member countries of the EU. He was firm that the EU should make a clear distinction between those legal immigrants residing, working and helping the economies of the EU countries and those who do not fit this description.  He informed the Swedish lawmaker about the debate taking place currently at the National Assembly relating to the reforms in the pension and social welfare systems and the Labor legislation.