Bulgaria initiates social support reform and digital identity wallet

Bulgaria is initiating preparations for two major systemic reforms: the creation of a unified Social Support Code and the implementation of a European Digital Identity Wallet.

Experts and institutions are discussing a new Social Support Code to consolidate various laws, regulations, and rules governing the social assistance system into a single framework. The goal is to make the system more accessible, understandable, and responsive to real human needs. Social Minister Natalia Efremova emphasized that consolidating services should not restrict rights, while former minister Lydia Shuleva highlighted the need for unified definitions of terms like 'family' and 'household' to ensure consistent assessment of needs.

Separately, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers has approved the start of building a European Digital Identity Wallet. This system will allow citizens and businesses to securely prove their identity when using electronic services from both state institutions and private companies. The wallet will support qualified electronic signatures and integrate with existing national electronic identification systems. The Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation is tasked with developing the management model and overseeing the infrastructure, which is expected to be fully established by the end of 2026 to ensure secure use both domestically and across European borders.