The number of Bulgarians living in poverty is to drop by 260 000 by 2020, according to a national strategy adopted by the government on Wednesday.

Bulgaria's National Strategy for Reducing Poverty and Promoting Social Inclusion 2020 aims to improve the quality of life of vulnerable groups in society and create conditions for their full-fledged realization, according to the press office of the government.

The 2020 Strategy will be implemented through 2-year action plans setting out concrete measures and activities, which will be adopted by the government.

The 2020 Strategy lists priorities such as providing employment opportunities and boosting labor income through active labor market participation, providing equal access to quality pre-school and school education, equal and efficient access to quality healthcare, abolishing the institutional model of care and developing cross-sector social inclusion services, improving capacity and cooperation in the spheres of education, healthcare, employment, and social services through the implementation of common social inclusion goals.

The 2020 Strategy devotes special attention to the "substantially worse" schooling conditions for Roma children, stressing the problem of lack of infrastructure in Roma neighborhoods.

The Strategy also says that the high share of illegal buildings and the illegal connections to the electricity grid and water supply and sewage networks pose a risk to the life and health of people.

The Strategy also cites child care and assistance for securing family environment for children as a key priority.

The National Strategy for Reducing Poverty and Promoting Social Inclusion 2020 has been published on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.