Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Experts try to counter the 'brain drain' from the Balkans

Photo: podkrepa.org

Higher incomes and improved quality of life are the key factors to counter migration and brain drain, participants in an international conference in Sofia on the integration of the Western Balkan countries have agreed.

The forum was attended by trade unionists and experts from North Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Albania, France and Austria. "Brain drain is a common problem in the Balkans for two reasons - loss of livelihoods and freedom of movement. A highly skilled workforce working for low pay can only exist in a dictatorship," said Dimitar Manolov, president of the Podkrepa trade union. Experts argue that continued emigration and growing poverty in the region are not only hindering the process of European integration, but also widening the gap in living standards. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Showers are expected across much of Bulgaria over the weekend

On Saturday, minimum temperatures will range from 8 to 13°C , around 9°C in Sofia. It will be mostly cloudy with rain in many areas. There will be temporary breaks in cloud cover over southern regions. Overnight into Sunday, cloudiness will begin to..

published on 10/17/25 7:05 PM

Fourth air ambulance helicopter arrives in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has received its fourth air ambulance helicopter.  “The new aircraft will be based at the Georgi Benkovski Air Force Academy hangar in Dolna Mitropolia. From there, it will serve a wide regional area and make a significant contribution to the..

published on 10/17/25 4:24 PM

BNR will host 2025 Public Broadcasters International conference

The Bulgarian National Radio will host the 2025  Public Broadcasters International (PBI) Annual Conference . The prestigious forum will be held from 20 to 22 October for the first time in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The theme of the PBI..

published on 10/17/25 3:34 PM