One out of five Bulgarians has received support from the European Social Fund during the past 7 years, caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Ivaylo Ivanov said at the "Europe is with me" forum, organized by the "Human Resources Development" Program. 

Thanks to the program, more than 100,000 employed and unemployed people have received training and have become more competent in the labour market. Nearly 90,000 Bulgarians have started a new job and 115,000 young people had the chance to gain their initial work experience under the "Youth Employment" measure, the minister pointed out.

He said that the funds from the European Social Fund have also reached the most vulnerable - children, the elderly, people with disabilities. The minister also pointed out that next year efforts will be directed towards reducing the number of people living at risk of poverty, BTA reports.