The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, conducted a visit to Bulgaria from 29 June to 3 July 2026. The visit focused on the human rights of older persons living in long-term care facilities, as part of the Commissioner's broader engagement on this issue across Council of Europe member states. The Commissioner also examined issues concerning the housing rights of Roma communities.

Continuing reforms in long-term care

The Commissioner welcomes the dedication of staff working in long-term care facilities and commends the authorities' efforts to modernise residential institutions and improve compliance with quality standards. He also welcomes the ongoing reform of the long-term care system, supported by policy and legislative developments designed to address population ageing and the growing demand for long-term care services.

However, persistent staff shortages remain a significant challenge. The Commissioner notes concerns about the decline in geriatric expertise following the discontinuation of geriatrics as a specific medical specialisation. He was also informed of the limited availability of specialised dementia care and the lengthy waiting lists for persons requiring such services.

To address these gaps, the Commissioner encourages the authorities to:

• Strengthen specialist geriatric expertise and expand dementia care 
• continue addressing workforce shortages by improving working conditions, enhancing training opportunities and making the care professions more attractive to boost staff retention.

The Commissioner observes that residential care facilities face challenges in appropriately integrating the medical and social models of care, which can at times lead to a less personalised living environment for residents. He encourages the authorities to strengthen coordination between healthcare and social care services to ensure a more integrated, person-centred approach that promotes residents’ well-being in their daily lives.

Addressing gaps in the protection of residents' rights

The Commissioner welcomes the measures adopted in response to serious violations in unlicensed and private care institutions. These include legislative amendments to tighten quality standards and inspections, the creation of reporting channels for residents, and a reinforced criminal law response to abuse.

The need remains for further measures to ensure adequate safety standards, including in terms of fire safety.

Efforts are also needed to strengthen independent monitoring of long-term care facilities, including by facilitating the relevant work of civil society organisations. Effective investigations into allegations of abuse, neglect and other violations of residents' rights remain essential, together with the delivery of criminal accountability for those responsible.

Reforming guardianship legislation

The Commissioner observes that many individuals are still deprived of their legal capacity and placed under plenary guardianship, despite the authorities acknowledging the outdated nature of the legal framework. He encourages the authorities to introduce supported decision-making arrangements that fully respect the autonomy, dignity and rights of the individuals concerned.

Ensuring that housing policies adequately address the situation of Roma communities

The Commissioner welcomes progress in promoting Roma inclusion, particularly regarding poverty reduction, social exclusion, and improved access to education and employment. He commends the successful work of Roma health mediators and welcomes legislative amendments enabling homeless persons and people living in informal dwellings to obtain address registration and identity documents.

He remains concerned by the incidence of forced evictions, such as those affecting residents of the Zaharna Fabrika neighbourhood in Sofia in April 2025, an issue on which he has previously engaged with the Bulgarian authorities.

While the Commissioner welcomes the authorities' efforts to implement judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, including in the case of Yordanova and Others v. Bulgaria, important issues remain unresolved. In particular, the absence of specific legislative provisions addressing proportionality assessment before evictions contributes to inconsistent administrative and judicial practice.

The Commissioner encourages the authorities to:

• ensure that the National Housing Strategy currently under preparation adequately addresses the specific housing situation of Roma communities, including those living in informal settlements.
• introduce explicit proportionality requirements for evictions and demolitions in legislation.
• intensify efforts to combat antigypsyism and consider replicating the successful model of Roma mediators in the housing sector.

During the visit, the Commissioner met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Velislava Petrova; the Minister of Justice, Nikolay Naydenov; the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Nataliya Efremova; the Minister of Health, Katya Ivkova; the Deputy Ministers of Regional Development and Public Works, Pavleta Pelovska and Desislava Georgieva; members of the National Delegation of Bulgaria to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and of the Commission on Human Rights, Religions and Citizens’ Complaints of the National Assembly; the Ombudsman, Velislava Deltcheva; the Committee for protection Against Discrimination; healthcare and social care professionals and civil society organisations. He also met with the Mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, and visited three long-term care facilities in and around Varna, where he met with residents and staff members and representatives of the local authorities. He thanks all his interlocutors for their openness, and constructive engagement.