Borissov at UN summit: It is time for action

Bulgaria seeks to improve its education and health care but poverty and social exclusion are a problem for the country, said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov during the Summit for Sustainable Development, which is being held days before the start of the 75th regular session of the UN General Assembly. It will be held online due the coronavirus pandemic.

"The agenda we have drawn together for sustainable development until 2030 is particularly important for Bulgaria as a key to tackling inequalities and a way to achieve a prosperous and peaceful society," Borissov said during his speech.

In front of the world leaders, the Bulgarian Prime Minister stressed that since the adoption in 2015 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, the member states have made a long-term commitment to achieving them. These include poverty eradication, economic development, reducing inequalities, quality education, peace and justice.

"We have only 10 years left to implement them and a full mobilization of the international community is needed," said Borissov. He stressed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lag in the implementation of goals, with exacerbated social inequalities, poverty and the serious consequences of climate change coming to the fore.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown that the 2030 Agenda is more important than ever. The announced Decade of Action will also be a Decade of Recovery with a focus on development goals," he said. He was adamant that the pandemic had also shown that no country could cope with the consequences alone.

The summit was also attended by 23 other heads of state and government from countries such as Austria, Finland, Norway, Slovenia, Argentina, Peru, Lebanon, Morocco, the Republic of South Africa and others.